No break for rising star Olivera
Cuban sensation continues hamstring rehab in advance of potential Dodgers callup
LOS ANGELES -- While the Dodgers start a four-day break for the All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile on Monday, Hector Olivera will stay busy.
The 30-year-old Cuban will be rehabbing from a strained hamstring, injured in a game on June 20, which has slowed his path to the Majors.
"He'll be playing and getting ready. The main thing with him is getting back playing," manager Don Mattingly said.
Olivera returned to game action on Tuesday for the Dodgers Rookie level team in the Arizona League. In four games with the AZL Dodgers, Olivera is 4-for-12 with two walks; Olivera was used as a designated hitter in his first game back but has started at third base in the following three games.
He will eventually return to Triple-A Oklahoma City, once the team returns from its own All-Star break on Thursday. Before the injury, Olivera was hitting .358 in 13 games between Double-A Tulsa and Oklahoma City while playing both second and third base.
Olivera signed a six-year, $62.5 million contract in May, and Mattingly believes he is a player who can help the Dodgers in the Majors in the second half.
"We haven't really had the chance to see him play live but everything you hear is good. We didn't sign him to be a Triple-A guy, I think we signed him to be a big league guy," Mattingly said. "He has a chance to be a part of what we're doing for sure."