The Dodgers will recall Ryan Ward with Teoscar Hernández going on the IL with his hamstring strain, source tells The Athletic.
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Ryan Ward could receive his first extended opportunity with the Dodgers while Teoscar Hernandez recovers from a hamstring injury.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without Teoscar Hernandez for the foreseeable future. Hernandez injured his left hamstring in the team’s 4-1 win over the Rockies and exited the game in frustration.
Following the game, manager Dave Roberts revealed the news that their left fielder was headed for the injured list. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports the corresponding roster move, which will be recalling Ryan Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers will recall Ryan Ward with Teoscar Hernández going on the IL with his hamstring strain, source tells The Athletic.
By calling up Ward, the Dodgers are hinting at what their plan will be in left field while Hernandez is on the mend. As a left-handed bat, the club can deploy a platoon at the position. Ward would face right-handed pitchers, and Alex Call would face left-handers and be a late-inning defensive replacement.
This also serves as Ward’s second stint in the big leagues. He appeared in two games this season, including one start at first base. He’s 2-for-6 at the plate with an RBI in his first call-up with the Dodgers.
The Dodgers finished the game with utility infielder Hyeseong Kim in left field. However, with Hernandez headed to the injured list, it made more sense to promote a more experienced outfield option.
With Oklahoma City, Ward has a slash line of .254/.379/.418 with six home runs in 47 games. In the high run-scoring environment of the Pacific Coast League, that translates to a 110 wRC+. It’s more in line with his 2024 production at the level than 2025.
This will be Ward’s first extensive opportunity with the Dodgers. He’s blocked at his natural position of first base by Freddie Freeman, leading to the club exploring opportunities to get him in the lineup as a corner outfielder. With Hernandez out for a while, he’ll have a longer runway to playing time.
Ward has an opportunity to audition for a regular role, whether that’s for the Dodgers or another organization.
The Dodgers await the MRI results on Hernandez’s injured hamstring, which will determine the severity of the injury. Roberts’ initial prognosis was that the outfielder would be out for a few weeks at a minimum.
That will leave Los Angeles without one of their key hitters. Hernandez holds a .276/.348/.436 slash with seven homers and a 123 wRC+ in 2026. While his mark is only the fifth-highest among qualified Dodger hitters, it’s still a significant loss. He ranks second on the club in RBI (31), trailing only center fielder Andy Pages (50).
Pages is the most likely beneficiary from a lineup standpoint, especially against left-handed pitchers. The young outfielder is in the midst of a breakout with the Dodgers, hitting .305 with 13 homers and a .899 OPS. His 2.8 fWAR leads all National League position players entering play on May 28.
To further offset the loss, the Dodgers will need more production at the plate from Kyle Tucker. After signing him to a four-year, $240 million deal, which also set the present-day AAV record, he’s fallen short of expectations. He currently is slashing .245/.345/.398 with four homers and a 114 wRC+. While that isn’t horrible offensive production at face value, it’s far less than what the Dodgers envisioned he’d add to their lineup.
How the Dodgers handle Hernandez’s absence might determine if they play in the Wild Card Series or not. They are currently holding the second-best record in the National League, with the Milwaukee Brewers hot on their tail.
Michael McDermott Michael McDermott covers MLB for Heavy Sports. He's previously published content for SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, and FanSided in 11 seasons. More about Michael McDermott
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