On Tuesday the Los Angeles Dodgers placed Scott Van Slyke on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, with right wrist irritation. It’s the second time this season Van Slyke has landed on the 15-day DL.
His first came in April when lower back irritation forced him to the DL. Van Slyke didn’t return from the injury, which was found to be more severe than initially believed, until early June.
This is also the second time since last October that Van Slyke has dealt with a right-wrist issue. He was left off the National League Division Series roster because of inflammation.
While the injury last season Van Slyke’s production was down the stretch and eventually rendered him unavailable, it did not require surgery.
That may not be the case this time around, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group:
Van Slyke said he was told to take a week to 10 days to rest his wrist. If he doesn’t feel better at that point, surgery would be an option. The procedure would be an “arthroscopic, run-of-the-mill clean-up,” but it would likely end his season.
On the season Van Sylke is batting .225/.292/.314 with six doubles, one home run and seven RBIs in 113 plate appearances over 52 games. Regarded for his ability to hit left-handed pitching, Van Slyke is batting .243/.333/.405 off southpaws this season.
Of his 27 career home runs, 17 have come against a lefty. The 30-year-old has primarily been used as a platoon player and pinch-hitter in parts of five seasons with the Dodgers. The club’s once-crowded outfield may quickly lose depth should Van Slyke require surgery.
Trayce Thompson is currently on the 60-day disabled list and isn’t eligible to return until Sept. 9. A recent follow-up scan on Thompson’s troublesome back revealed multiple fractures.
