Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández continued his impressive injury rehab by homering for the third consecutive game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be closing in on the return of one of their most productive hitters.
Outfielder Teoscar Hernández continued his dominant rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, launching another home run while recovering from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
His latest blast marked the third consecutive rehab game in which he has gone deep, an encouraging sign as he works toward returning to the major-league roster.
With Hernández expected back as early as next week's road series against the Athletics in West Sacramento, the Dodgers have every reason to believe he will return without missing a beat.
Power Display Continues
Hernández wasted little time making an impact against Triple-A pitching.
Facing Reno starter Dylan Ray, the veteran slugger crushed a two-run homer to straightaway center field during the third inning. The drive traveled 441 feet off the bat at 103.7 mph, once again providing Oklahoma City with an early offensive spark.
While he finished the evening with three groundball outs in his other plate appearances, the long ball continued a remarkable trend throughout his rehab assignment.
In each of his three games with the Comets, Hernández has homered in the third inning, with every blast driving in two runs. Across the assignment, he has consistently looked comfortable at the plate despite missing time with the hamstring injury.
Dodgers Await Offensive Boost
Los Angeles could certainly use Hernández's bat back in the middle of its lineup.
Before landing on the Injured List, the veteran outfielder was batting .276 with a .784 OPS through 51 games while providing steady run production and power. His ability to drive in runs has been especially valuable for a Dodgers offense that has recently struggled to generate consistent scoring.
The club has been held to two runs or fewer in four of its last six games, making Hernández's imminent return even more significant.
Return Appears Imminent
After resting Thursday, Hernández has resumed game action without any apparent setbacks, and his performance has offered little indication that the hamstring injury continues to affect him.
If everything continues progressing as expected, the Dodgers could activate him early next week, giving their lineup another proven middle-of-the-order presence as they continue navigating a competitive National League race.
For Los Angeles, Hernández's rehab assignment has accomplished exactly what the organization hoped for: proving that one of its top run producers is healthy, swinging confidently and prepared to make an immediate impact upon his return.
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