Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is starting a rehab assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters, including Katie Woo of The Athletic, that Hernandez could be activated for a series against the A’s beginning on June 29. He’s been on the injured list for just over three weeks with a left hamstring strain.
The initial timeline for Hernandez was a month-long absence, and he’s perfectly on track to meet that target date. He’s dealing with a Grade 1 strain. Hernandez is slated for four to five games with Oklahoma City. The Comets play six games against Reno from June 23-28.
The Dodgers have taken a more cautious approach to Hernandez’s soft-tissue injury this time around. The veteran missed less than two weeks with a groin strain last season. Hernandez had a .933 OPS when he went down in early May. He put up a .672 mark after returning from the injury.
Hernandez seemed to be picking up where he left off last season, slashing an underwhelming .235/.303/.398 through April. Then he turned it on in May, hitting .325 with seven extra-base hits. Hernandez pulled up lame on a groundout against the Rockies on May 27. He was immediately replaced in left field. The Dodgers put him on the IL two days later.
With Hernandez embarking on a rehab assignment, he’s now ahead of catcher Will Smith in terms of returning to the majors. The backstop went down with neck inflammation in early June. The Dodgers downplayed the issue at the time, but Roberts told reporters that Smith is not expected to return until July (h/t Sonja Chen of MLB.com). He isn’t traveling with the team on its upcoming road trip, which will include stops in Minnesota, San Diego, and Sacramento. It’s unclear if Smith will need a rehab stint.
Smith last suited up on June 5 against the Angels. He was in the initial lineup the following day, but was scratched. The backstop was labeled day-to-day throughout the next series, then finally hit the injured list on June 11. With the upcoming road trip off the table, Smith’s earliest opportunity to return will be a July 2 matchup at home against the Padres.
It’s hard to knock above-league-average production from a catcher, but Smith’s 104 wRC+ is a bit disappointing considering his track record. Smith has been at least 17% better than league average in all but one season of his career. He’s coming off one of his best years as a big leaguer, hitting a career-high .296 with a 153 wRC+ in 2025.
Smith’s absence has meant consistent playing time for Dalton Rushing. The highly-touted bat has cooled off after a torrid start to the season, but he still has a near-.800 OPS in June. Rushing has easily outperformed Smith at the plate, but the glove has been a bit of an issue. Rushing has recorded -3 Defensive Runs Saved across 268 1/3 innings. After back-to-back subpar seasons on defense, Smith has racked up 5 DRS in just 48 games this year.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images
