Dodgers Expected to Recall Ryan Ward with Teoscar Hernández Heading to IL
In the wake of Teoscar Hernández's left hamstring injury, the Dodgers will recall 1B/OF Ryan Ward from Triple-A
LOS ANGELES, CA—After losing Kiké Hernández to a severe left oblique injury on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers will now be without fellow fan-favorite Teoscar Hernández for an extended period of time after the outfielder suffered a left hamstring strain.
While details of the severity of the injury are unknown, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed after yesterday’s 4-1 Dodgers win over the Colorado Rockies that Hernández would be placed on the injured list.
That leaves the Dodgers a man short for their upcoming weekend series against the red-hot Philadelphia Phillies, and according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the team will look to Ryan Ward to fill the void as he’ll be recalled from Triple-A.
For Ward, it’ll be the second stint at the Major League level after filling in for All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, who was placed on paternity leave in April.
Ward did well in his brief time with the Dodgers during their weekend series against the Rockies in Denver, going 2-for-6 with an RBI.
As far as Ward's stats with the Oklahoma City Comets, the 28-year-old has continued to showcase above-average numbers offensively, slugging six home runs, driving in 31 runners, but has seen his OPS dip from last year’s PCL MVP-winning season to a modest .797 across 177 at-bats.
Unlike in April, Ward will get ample opportunity with the Dodgers as Hernández is expected to miss several weeks as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
Ward will likely stay on the Dodgers' 26-man roster until the activation of utilityman Tommy Edman, who began his rehab assignment earlier this week and is eying a mid-June return.