Kike Hernandez is nearing a return from the oblique strain that interrupted the start of his season, and the timing could matter just as much as the player himself for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Late May feels like a long time ago now, but it was only then that Hernandez opened the year 4-for-4 against the Colorado Rockies before going down with the injury. Since then, the Dodgers have taken a careful approach, and that patience has been possible because more contributors are coming back from the injured list.
Roberts: Hernandez looks normal
Over the weekend, Dave Roberts sounded increasingly confident about where Hernandez stands in his recovery. “Honestly, he looks normal,” Roberts said, before adding: “It’s really, I don’t want to say miraculous, but I’m really in disbelief how well he’s responded, given the injury. … Swinging, throwing, everything. There’s no compensation or feeling it. Certainly a quick healer. He’s working hard to get back.”
That is encouraging language for any player, but especially for a utility piece whose value is tied to reliability and flexibility. The Dodgers do not need to rush him, and because they did not place him on the 60-day injured list, his return is not blocked by that restriction.
Why the Dodgers can be patient
The bigger picture is straightforward: the Dodgers are in a position where they may not need to make major trade deadline additions if their injured players keep trending in the right direction. Hernandez’s return would add depth to a group that already expects more help back soon, and that can change the way the front office thinks about the market.
That does not mean the Dodgers should ignore the deadline entirely. But it does mean internal reinforcements matter, and Hernandez is part of that equation. If he comes back healthy, the Dodgers gain another experienced option without having to pay for one.
For now, the key issue is simple. Hernandez is working back, Roberts believes he looks normal, and the Dodgers appear content to let the return happen when he is comfortable. With the trade deadline approaching, that kind of timing could prove useful in more than one way.
