While the Los Angeles Dodgers saw the returns of Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry this past weekend, they will be without Corey Seager for at least a few more weeks as he remains on the mend from a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand.
The 27-year-old sustained the injury on May 15 after being hit by a pitch and was placed on the 10-day injured list the following day. He is now two weeks into a minimum one-month recovery and continues making progress each day.
Seager already has resumed baseball activities, which includes defensive work and taking dry swings. “Seeing him take grounders and did some more throwing, he looks fantastic,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“He’s doing one-handed swings, a lot of running. I think the splint is not a 24-hour a day deal now, so we’re progressing. But I don’t know when he’s going to take swings two-handed yet.”
Although Seager has yet to advance to swinging with two hands, it’s certainly encouraging he no longer has to wear a splint all day long. In addition to fielding grounders and taking one-handed swings, the two-time All-Star has been keeping active by working on his conditioning.
“I know Brandon McDaniel stayed back with him and got the conditioning part of things, the leg work, glove work, which is great,” Roberts said. “I think the overall plan is once he’s healthy enough to come back and play games, we just want him to hit the ground running.
“Corey is definitely on that plan. He’s just such a great worker.”
Alexander, Cleavinger advancing toward rehab assignments
In other Dodgers injury news, Scott Alexander and Garrett Cleavinger are inching closer to joining a Minor League affiliate for the start of a rehab assignment.
“They’re both in Arizona. Cleav just threw a ‘pen, was good. At some point they’re going to get on assignment,” Roberts said. “They’re not there yet, but I think Cleav is a little bit ahead of Scottie, to my understanding.”
Alexander has been on the IL since May 6 due to left shoulder inflammation. As for Cleavinger, he landed on the IL on May 18 because of left forearm inflammation.
Other injured Dodgers who could return relatively soon include Brusdar Graterol, Jimmy Nelson and AJ Pollock.
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