Kiké Hernández played in a 12th and final game with Triple-A Oklahoma City to complete his rehab assignment on Saturday. Next is an expected return to the Los Angeles Dodgers roster on Monday.
Hernández went 9-for-42 with two doubles, one triple and three RBI on his extended rehab assignment. He had a four-game hitting streak before going 0-for-4 in the Comets’ 2-1 loss Saturday night.
Hernández started games at second base, third base, center field and designated hitter for the Comets. The bulk of his playing time came at third base, where he played 10 games.
Hernández’s rehab assignment spanned most of the month, as his first game with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate came on May 5. It was expected to be a prolonged process considering he was working toward returning from having left elbow surgery during the offseason.
It didn’t allow for Hernández to play in any games during Spring Training, and because of that, Hernández viewed his time with the Comets as effectively replicating that period of preparing for a season.
Inconsistent results aside, his rehab assignment can be viewed as an overwhelming success. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes at one point estimated Hernández would not return until roughly the midpoint of the season.
For his part, Hernández publicly pointed to May 25 as the date he would be activated off the 60-day injured list. Sunday was the first day he became eligible to return, but Hernández noted the more likely outcome was going to be joining the roster when the Dodgers started their homestand rather than the final day of their road trip.
Dodgers roster decision with Kiké Hernández returning
The Dodgers currently have a roster crunch that will need to be addressed in order to bring Hernández off the 60-day injured list. That conceivably could be achieved in one fell swoop by parting ways with Santiago Espinal, who is in the midst of starting back-to-back games in place of Max Muncy.
Another option could be for the Dodgers to make separate moves with their active and 40-man rosters. If they free up a spot for Hernández on the 40-man that does not involve Espinal, he could then be activated if Muncy needs to go on the 10-day injured list.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has continued to suggest Muncy won’t need to be sidelined after getting hit by a pitch in the right wrist, but he also said further imaging could take place on Monday.
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