The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Kiké Hernández from the 60-day injured list and designated Santiago Espinal for assignment prior to hosting the Colorado Rockies on Memorial Day.
There were multiple options available to the Dodgers as corresponding roster moves to reinstating Hernández, but deciding on Espinal seemingly was the path of least resistance. Doing so not only made room for Hernández on the active Dodgers roster, but cleared a spot on their 40-man roster as well.
Espinal previously avoided the roster crunch when Mookie Betts returned from the 15-day IL. In that instance, Alex Freeland was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Espinal and Hyeseong Kim remained with the Dodgers.
Given some of his recent struggles, there was a thought that perhaps Kim would be next to get demoted to Oklahoma City. Though, that would still have required the Dodgers to make an additional move on their 40-man roster in order to bring Hernández back.
“He’s back to chasing, I think he’s passive when he shouldn’t be, and then he’s getting into bad counts,” manager Dave Roberts said of Kim on Sunday.
“I don’t know if it’s a mechanical thing, but he’s been kind of grinding, quite honestly, the last month. It’s been kind of tough for him. But he’s playing good defense, which is great. He’s a great teammate, which he always is. He’s preparing and competing, but right now it’s just not working.”
Espinal joined the Dodgers on a Minor League contract during the offseason and reportedly had his deal reworked to push back the date for it becoming fully guaranteed.
Kiké Hernández returns
Hernández is back with the Dodgers for the first time since undergoing left elbow surgery during the offseason. He was eligible to return on Sunday, but the team instead opted to activate him for the start of their homestand.
The 34-year-old went 9-for-42 (.214) with two doubles, one triple and three RBI in 12 rehab games with the Comets. He started games at second base, third base, center field and designated hitter.
Inconsistent results aside, Hernández’s rehab assignment can be viewed as an overwhelming success. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes at one point estimated the utility man would not return until roughly the midpoint of the season.
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