The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Tommy Kahnle from the 60-day injured list and designated Heath Hembree for assignment to make room on both the active and 40-man rosters.
Kahnle returns after missing the past four months due to a bone bruise in his right elbow. The injury was believed to have been related to the Tommy John surgery Kahnle had in August 2020. Kahnle signed with the Dodgers that offseason but missed the entire 2021 season while completing the rehab process.
He didn’t join the Dodgers bullpen until this past May, but only appeared in four games prior to being put back on the IL. Kahnle was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 28.
The 33-year-old began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 24 and went on to pitch in seven games for the Dodgers’ top Minor League affiliate. Kahnle allowed just three runs and had seven strikeouts against two walks in seven innings pitched during the rehab assignment.
It concluded with pitching on back-to-back nights, which typically is a final checkpoint. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Kahnle was a possibility to be activated for the Arizona Diamondbacks series, but fellow relief pitchers Danny Duffy and Victor González had their respective rehab assignments shut down.
Hembree is now passing through waivers after spending the past two weeks with the Dodgers. Hembree appeared in six games and was credited with a win in his Dodgers debut against the New York Mets.
He went 1-0 with a 4.82 ERA in 10 games for Oklahoma City after signing a Minor League contract with the Dodgers at the end of June. Hembree previously was in the Majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this season, and also has pitched for the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Mets and Cincinnati Reds during his career.
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