After attempting to play through elbow and back injuries and failing to produce at the level he and the Los Angeles Dodgers expect, Adrian Gonzalez decided it was time to take a step back.
The Dodgers put Gonzalez on the 10-day disabled list last week for the first time in his 14-year career. Gonzalez’s 1,833 career games played without a DL stint were the most among active players.
The veteran first baseman may soon return with the Dodgers, as a rehab assignment looms, per Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA:
.@Adrian_ElTitan will go out next week to play 2-3 rehab games.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) May 12, 2017
When Gonzalez was put on the disabled list he said a timeline was largely thrown out the window, with the focus on getting fully healthy. Shortly after, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed that sentiment, adding Gonzalez was on a “slow program.”
But that quickly changed, as Andrew Toles suffered an ACL injury that requires surgery and will likely knock him out for the remainder of the season. Gonzalez will be eligible be activated off the DL come Monday, May 15.
The 35-year-old batted .255/.327/.309 with a .284 wOBA and 76 wRC+ in 29 games. He had 11 RBI, and only five doubles to show for extra-base hits. Gonzalez’s .635 on-base plus slugging percentage is on pace to be the lowest of his career.
Gonzalez is under contract through the 2018 season.
