The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Teoscar Hernández off the 10-day injured list and optioned Ryan Ward to Triple-A Oklahoma City before Monday’s game against the A’s.
Hernández had been out since May 29 due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, which created somewhat of an extended opportunity for Ward. He returns after completing a brief rehab assignment that began June 22 and comprised of playing four games for the Comets.
Hernández went 3-for-13 with three home runs, six RBI and two walks in those contests. Hernández hit a homer in each of his first three games before going 0-for-3 with two walks this past Saturday while playing all nine innings in left field.
The 33-year-old did not play Sunday as he traveled to Sacramento in advance of coming off the injured list. Hernández joins the Dodgers as they are in the midst of playing 13 consecutive games. Still remaining are 10 more games in that stretch, which is going to result in the team taking a cautious approach like they did with Tommy Edman.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Hernández will initially be limited to playing no more than three days in a row before receiving rest.
Hernández is batting .276/.348/.436 with seven home runs and 31 RBI so far this season. Despite missing the past month with the hamstring injury, he was among six Dodgers who advanced to the second round of 2026 MLB All-Star Game voting.
Teoscar Hernández’s return sends Ryan Ward back to Minors
Ward made his MLB debut while up with the Dodgers earlier this season because of Freddie Freeman going on paternity leave. Hernández’s hamstring injury created a larger opportunity, and the reigning Pacific Coast League MVP took full advantage.
Ward wound up appearing in 18 games (17 starts) during his second stint with the Dodgers, and hit .204/.278/.469 with four doubles three home runs and 11 RBI during that span. At one point he had a five-game hitting streak and over the past month made multiple sliding catches in left field.
“I like him. Certainly there’s a willing player, there’s a skillset of some power, he’s defended fine in left field, he grinds at-bats,” Roberts recently said. “There’s some swing-and-miss in there, which we’ve known, but for a young player, his first time here on this stage, he’s more than holding his own.
“Even with the move with Espi (Santiago Espinal) the other day, part of the result of him staying here is because he’s performed. He carries himself really well, good on the team. It’s good for the Dodgers to give a guy like him opportunities. He’s earned it.”
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