Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Adrian Gonzalez will continue his assignment on Saturday with High-A Rancho Cucamonga. Andre Ethier is also expected to be in the Quakes lineup for what will be his first rehab game.
Gonzalez spent five games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 4-for-13 with one home run, six RBI and two strikeouts. The plan called for Gonzalez to spend the backend of his rehab assignment with the Quakes.
Although the Dodgers typically send players immediately to Rancho Cucamonga, Roberts previously explained logistics dictated otherwise for the veteran first baseman.
Gonzalez has been on the disabled list since June 12 due to an official diagnosis of lower back discomfort. The 35-year-old has multiple herniated discs in his lower back.
The Dodgers transferred Gonzalez to the 60-day disabled list near the end of July, which made Saturday the earliest date he could be activated. Gonzalez is batting .255/.304/.339 with 11 doubles, one home run and 23 RBI in 49 games this season. His .643 on-base plus slugging percentage would be a career-worst clip.
Gonzalez is tracking a few beats ahead of Ethier, who is not expected to be activated from the 60-day DL until Friday, Sept. 1. This year marks a second consecutive season Ethier has lost because of an injury suffered in Spring Training.
