Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Enrique Hernández has had a rough year so far this season. He is batting a meager .195 with 8 home runs and 22 RBIs.
He began dealing with elbow soreness and was put on the injured list back in early July. The hope was that it would be a short stint, give him some time to rest, and then he could come back healthy and his bat would wake up.
Unfortunately, the injury is lingering, and now there is a real possibility that he could miss the rest of the season.
In speaking with the media on Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave a rather ominous update regarding Hernandez’s status on returning this season.
“Certainly there is no guarantee, but we’re hopeful that he’ll be back,” Roberts said.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
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The Dodgers and Hernández have done just about everything they can to get the LA Legend back on the field, including a cortisone shot and non-evasive rehab procedures. Up to this point, none of it has worked.
This season has been one filled with a cornucopia of injuries for the Men in Blue. Roberts has navigated the team to an impressive 65-48 record, and a three-game lead over the second-place San Diego Padres.
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At this point, the hope for the Los Angeles Dodgers is to get Hernández back for the playoffs, when he really shines. While he has struggled mightily, his game seems to elevate when the lights shine the brightest.
Last year, during the team’s World Series run, he batted .294, with an OBP of .357, and an OPS of .808. He added 2 home runs, a triple, and 6 RBIs.
Dave Roberts and the team are taking all of their injury woes with an abundance of caution, and there is still plenty of time until the postseason begins, but they will need Hernández to start trending in the right direction if they hope to get some of that magic in October.