The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Brock Stewart before Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, and Teoscar Hernández could return next week, but now they have a potential Kyle Tucker injury to navigate.
The Dodgers announced Tucker exited in the second inning of the series opener at Target Field due to lower back spasms. Tucker was hunched over at second base and went into a crouch before jogging off the field. Alex Call entered as a pinch-runner with one out in the second inning.
Tucker was seen speaking with Dodgers hitting coaches Robert Van Scoyoc and Aaron Bates, not a trainer, upon going into the dugout.
Tucker had reached safely in the inning via walk and appeared to be bothered by some sort of physical ailment while running the bases on Tommy Edman’s single.
The 29-year-old is in the midst of a wholly underwhelming first season with the Dodgers. He’s downplayed the notion of feeling pressure from joining a high-profile team that’s in pursuit of a World Series title, though manager Dave Roberts believes that partly is to blame for Tucker’s struggles.
Tucker entered play Monday batting .234/.331/.374 with 16 doubles, six home runs and 40 RBI. Curiously, he’s fared much better on the road by hitting .277/.370/.445 with seven doubles, four homers and 26 RBI over 36 games (35 starts).
What if Kyle Tucker is injured?
Back spasms is the same injury that has sidelined Tyler Glasnow since May 8 and proven troublesome to recover from.
Should the Dodgers need to put Tucker on the injured list as well, it will create an opportunity for a call-up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Given that Ryan Ward is already on the Dodgers roster, Hyeseong Kim may be in line for a return.
Alek Thomas is the only other outfielder on the 40-man roster who is healthy but not currently with the team. Ward has never played right field in his MLB career but has done so throughout his time in the Minors. Call is capable of filling in as well.
Edman has already been utilized by the Dodgers in left field, and Kim has some time there. The Dodgers recalling Kim would further allow for Ward or Call to comfortably play right field, and help the Dodgers maintain positional versatility.
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