The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without Jason Heyward since he was put on the 10-day injured list April 3 because of lower back tightness, but he may be on the verge of returning.
“Jason swung the bat [Friday]. I saw him do some wind sprints, which was good. Hopefully he comes in feeling good tomorrow and can continue to build on that,” manager Dave Roberts said before the Dodgers suffered an extra-innings loss to the San Diego Padres.
“What the next course of action is the next few days, I think it’s all contingent on how he feels [Saturday]. I think he’s eligible to come off (the IL) on Monday. So honestly, I don’t think anyone knows until he comes in tomorrow after this big workload day.”
While Heyward will have been out of game action for more than week, regardless of when he returns, the Dodgers have not yet decided on a potential rehab assignment.
“We’ll see. I think with Jason’s tenure, I think he’s worthy to warrant being a part of that conversation,” Roberts noted. “Hopefully we can get a live situation set up for him in the next few days. And then at that point in time, if he feels he needs some more at-bats (then do a rehab assignment).
“Because the main thing is you want to be healthy, but we want Jason to come back feeling confident in the batter’s box too.”
Heyward traveled with the team and started doing some activities while the Dodgers were on their road trip, and he also led teammates in a surprise visit to the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy in Chicago.
How Dodgers have replaced Jason Heyward
Heyward’s roster spot has been taken by Taylor Trammell, who was claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres. However, in terms of starts, Teoscar Hernández has taken on the brunt of playing time in right field.
Chris Taylor has started with plenty of regularity in left field, with Kiké Hernández and Trammell mixed in on a limited basis as well.
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