LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers activated Kiké Hernandez from the 15-day DL and optioned catcher Austin Barnes to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. The utility man went 1-for-4 with a double while starting at center field in his first game back.
Hernandez went 3-for-24 in six games during a rehab assignment with six different teams. He had been out since June 29 due to rib inflammation and is now hitting .191/.284/.351 in 148 plate appearances with the Dodgers this season.
Adding Hernandez gives the Dodgers a right-handed option in center, something the team has been lacking since Trayce Thompson was placed on the DL with lower back irritation. He might not be the primary option for long though, as manager Dave Roberts said Thompson is making progress in his rehab.
"Trayce, he's progressing nicely," Roberts said. "He's taking batting practice, he's throwing, he's running. Hopefully for us and him, we're going to send him out on a rehab assignment and for me, sometime next week is the goal."
One of LA's other right-handed bats in the outfield, Yasiel Puig was back in the lineup Sunday after sitting since last Thursday with hamstring tightness, giving the team an all right-handed outfield against D-backs lefty Patrick Corbin. Barnes was seldom used as the Dodgers' third catcher, receiving only four plate appearances and never starting in his nine days with the team.
Injury updates
• The team still hasn't decided whether Brett Anderson (back) will make his next rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City or Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga. Roberts said the decision would be based mostly on the weather, with the OKC team in Colorado Springs or Rancho in Stockton.
Anderson threw a bullpen session Sunday and will throw five innings Tuesday, but is unlikely to be activated following that start.
• Roberts said that a return for Alex Wood (triceps) late in the season would likely be in the bullpen so the team doesn't have to build him up during his rehab. Frankie Montas (ribs) could also be a possibility out of the bullpen if he returns.
• Yimi García (biceps) suffered a "a little something" with his knee during his rehab assignment and Roberts doesn't know the next time he will pitch. Casey Fien threw a 20-25 pitch bullpen session Sunday and is expected to make a return. Chris Hatcher's injury is a third-degree oblique strain, so his return this season is "unlikely."