Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier was the victim of a freak accident this past spring when he fouled a ball off his right shin during a Cactus League game on March 18.
While the injury originally didn’t appear to be serious as x-rays came back negative, Ethier in actuality sustained a fractured right tibia. That timetable has come and gone, and the 34-year-old outfielder remains sideline.
Ethier recently expressed confidence a return this season remains in the cards.
He continues to make slow and steady progress. “He’s exchanged text messages with some players, and I haven’t talked to Dre in a couple weeks but as I understand it, he’s swinging the bat, taking batting practice, doing some weight-bearing jogging,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said over the weekend.
Roberts reiterated his expectation of Ethier contributing this season, but isn’t yet certain of what that will entail. “September is certainly realistic, but to what capacity or extent, I really don’t know,” Roberts said.
Ethier is coming off a resurgent year in which he hit .294/.366/.486 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. That success carried into Spring Training where Ethier hit .435/.517/.652 (10-for-23) with one triple, one home run, five walks and four RBIs prior to the injury.
Whether starting or coming off the bench, Ethier would give the Dodgers another left-handed hitting outfielder that they’ve otherwise lacked for much of the year. What’s more, the 10-year veteran has plenty of postseason experience.
