The Los Angeles Dodgers inadvertently inserted three new players during the seventh inning of Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Pedro Baez and Kiké Hernandez entered as part of a double switch, replacing Brandon Morrow and Yasiel Puig.
Prior to play resuming, Yasmani Grandal was replaced by Austin Barnes. FOX television cameras showed Dodgers trainer Nate Lucero tending to Grandal in the dugout, and the Dodgers later announced he was removed due to a left hand contusion.
X-rays on Grandal’s left thumb came back negative, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after his club’s walk-off win in extra innings.
Grandal went 1-for-3 with a double prior to the early exit. Grandal’s double was his 19th of the season, which matches a career high that was set in 2014 with the San Diego Padres.
On the season, Grandal is hitting .267/.319/.469 with the aforementioned 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 24 RBI.
Not that any injury is welcomed, but the timing and circumstances surrounding Grandal’s could be worse. He will to be out of the lineup Sunday against Royals southpaw Danny Duffy, but available off the bench. Grandal will then have the benefit of the All-Star break.
The Dodgers begin the second half of their schedule Friday against the Miami Marlins, in the opener of a three-game road series.
