With MLB rosters set to expand to 28 players on Sept. 1, the Los Angeles Dodgers appear primed to move Teoscar Hernández into somewhat of a platoon role amid his ongoing struggles this season.
Hernández did hit a two-run home run on Sunday to help the Dodgers end their road trip with a series win against the Detroit Tigers, but he otherwise has been subject to the same offensive woes as several teammates.
One area Hernández has fared better in is hitting left-handed pitching. Case in point, his homer on Sunday came against Framber Valdez. Given those splits, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated the veteran outfielder may see his overall starts reduced in effort to help put him in better positions to succeed.
“Right now I don’t know who we’re going to call up. I’m sure we’ll talk about it [Monday]. My assumption is it will be a left-handed bat,” Roberts said on SportsNet LA. “I’ll talk to the hitting guys, I’ll talk to the front office and then I’ll ultimately make a decision on what’s the best for our ballclub, for Teo.
“But again, he’s still a big part of it regardless.”
Regardless of how playing time ultimately unfolds during the final month of the regular season, Roberts is hopeful Hernández will build off his home run.
“I hope that kind of spurs some confidence in him because I know he’s been putting in the work underneath (with hitting coaches),” Roberts said.
“I do think just getting some rewards, feeling like you helped contribute, will sort of build that confidence in him. Not to say that he’s lost confidence, but I do think it makes you feel better to contribute to a win.”
James Tibbs III possibly joining Dodgers
When looking at left-handed pitching position players in the Dodgers farm system who are thought to be MLB ready, the group only consists of Josue De Paula, James Tibbs III and Ryan Ward. Of that trio, Ward already made his MLB debut earlier this season and spent a month up with the Dodgers while Hernández was on the injured list.
Given the offensive struggles over the past two months, the Dodgers stand to benefit from possibly receiving more of an impact than Ward made. That would suggest De Paula, though his defense remains a work in progress.
Thus, Tibbs stands out as the likely candidate to get recalled by the Dodgers. That’s despite like De Paula, not yet being on the team’s 40-man roster. Further indication that Tibbs appears to be the choice is he did not play Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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