After one month spent attempting to play through multiple injuries, Adrian Gonzalez felt it was time for his first career stint on the disabled list. Gonzalez had been hampered since Spring Training by elbow/forearm soreness. A bulging disc also became an issue.
His decision to go on the DL was made easier by the arrival and emergence of Cody Bellinger. The Dodgers went 8-4 without Gonzalez; one game was rained out postponed to September. He was expected to take a slow approach while recovering from the multiple malaises.
However, Andrew Toles suffering an torn ACL accelerated Gonzalez’s timeline. He did complete a brief rehab assignment with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and returned from the disabled list in improved health.
On Friday, Gonzalez slugged his first home run since last September. No longer bothered by back and elbow pain, he told Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA the focus is on freeing from poor mechanics that are a result of the injuries:
“I’ve been working on things mechanically, and things have been feeling better the last few days. I’m just trying to stay with the work I’ve been doing. It’s a work in progress, but it’s progressing in the right direction. It’s good to feel better out there. Now it’s about eliminating all the bad mechanics I created when I wasn’t healthy.”
The home run Gonzalez hit to straightaway center field was measured at 429 feet, good for his longest at Dodger Stadium in the Statcast era (since 2015).
Gonzalez has four doubles and seven RBI in seven games since coming off the disabled list. The 35-year-old said last weekend he viewed his return as the true start of the 2017 season.
