The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without several key players so far in 2018, but perhaps none more significant than All-Star third baseman Justin Turner. He has yet to play this season after fracturing his wrist during Spring Training.
No timetable was ever given for Turner’s return, but it was expected by many that he would miss around eight weeks and return sometime in May. Turner is on pace for that schedule, as he recently began swinging a bat for the first time.
From there he advanced to participating in two simulated games at Dodger Stadium this week. Now Turner is joining High-A Rancho Cucamonga this weekend for a rehab assignment.
If all goes well, he could join the Dodgers for the start of their upcoming road trip, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Roberts said Turner will spend two games in a rehab assignment at Rancho Cucamonga this week, then join the Dodgers for the series that opens Tuesday in Miami.
The Dodgers have missed Turner greatly at third base, as his replacements have combined to hit just .192 going into play on Saturday night. That ranks 29th out of 30 teams at the position.
After missing nearly two months, only playing two rehab games before being activated might be a little ambitious. But if there’s anyone who is capable of doing that it’s Turner, who can get out of bed and hit.
Logan Forsythe, who began a rehab assignment with Rancho Cucamonga on Friday night, could also be in line to return around the same time as Turner.
