Teoscar homers in first rehab game with return to Dodgers nearing
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Teoscar Hernández began his Minor League rehab assignment on Tuesday night by giving Dodgers fans a taste of what they’ve been missing.
Starting in left field for Triple-A Oklahoma City in Tuesday’s game at Reno, Hernández -- working his way back from a left hamstring strain -- launched a two-run homer to left field in his second at-bat of the night. The 104.7 mph dinger came on a slider from Aces left-hander Tommy Henry.
Hernández finished his first rehab game 1-for-3 after hitting a 92.0 mph groundout to short in the first inning and striking out swinging in the top of the sixth before being replaced in left field before the bottom of the frame. Despite a layoff of nearly four weeks -- he landed on the injured list on May 29 -- he showed little rust in his return to game action.
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That’s an encouraging sign for the Dodgers, who have had Ryan Ward and Alex Call splitting time in left field since Hernández hurt his hamstring on May 27. The veteran had been heating up for Los Angeles, batting .346 with a .973 OPS in the 15 games before his injury.
Hernández could return to the Majors by next week, perhaps as soon as Monday, when the Dodgers open a series against the Athletics in West Sacramento.