The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Kiké Hernandez from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Austin Barnes to Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Hernandez starts in center field and bats seventh against southpaw Patrick Corbin. Hernandez returns after missing 26 games with left rib cage inflammation. Soon after landing on the DL, it was reported the utility man played with the injury for multiple weeks.
Hernandez’s rehab assignment spanned six games, two each with rookie-level Arizona, High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa. He went 3-for-24 with one double and three walks during that time.
The 24-year-old played three games in center field, twice at second base, and spent another as the designated hitter. Hernandez is batting .189/.280/.346 with five doubles, five home runs and 12 RBIs in 65 games this season.
He’s hitting .203/.329/.458 with three doubles, four home runs and six RBIs in 70 plate appearances against left-handers. Barnes’ third stint with the Dodgers this season again led to minimal playing time.
Barnes went 1-for-4 over four games, appearing in each off the bench. Overall this season he’s 3-for-26 (.130) with one double and one RBI in 14 games (five starts). With Oklahoma City, Barnes is batting .299/.383/.454 with 16 doubles, five home runs and 32 RBIs.
