The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves shorthanded with a multitude of injuries depleting their positional depth. Among those currently sidelined is Yasiel Puig, who was recently placed on the 10-day disabled list with an ankle injury and hip pointer.
Puig suffered both of those injuries in the first game of a day-night doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants two weekends ago. First, he came up gingerly after running into the right-field wall to make an impressive catch.
Puig then injured his ankle after fouling a ball off his foot minutes later. He was removed from the game as a result and later underwent x-rays on the ankle, which came back negative but revealed a contusion.
Both injuries were considered relatively minor and it appears that Puig will make a relatively quick return. But first will come a rehab assignment with High-A Rancho Cucamonga, according to SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo:
Puig will do rehab in Rancho & will be activated off DL on Wednesday.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) May 6, 2018
Puig has gotten off to a slow start at the plate, but his return will add further length to the Dodgers lineup in the wake of Corey Seager’s season-ending Tommy John surgery.
With Puig on the shelf, Dodgers top positional prospect Alex Verdugo has received an increased workload in the outfield. He is taking advantage of his opportunity, as evidenced by his excellent .333/.385/.500 batting line through 30 plate appearances.
That’s even with Verdugo going hitless against the San Diego Padres over the final two games of the Mexico Series.