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Teoscar Hernández is closing in on a return to the Dodgers, per MLB.com staff. The veteran outfielder has been building up during his rehab assignment and appears near a return to the big league roster — a significant boost for a lineup that has been grinding through an extensive injury list.

Hernández has been one of the most important bats in the Dodgers’ lineup since signing with the club ahead of the 2024 season. He made an immediate impact that year, slashing .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs and 99 RBI while earning his second career All-Star selection. His combination of power, durability, and clutch production was a major reason the Dodgers won the World Series in 2024, capping a remarkable first season in LA. He re-signed with the club, cementing himself as a core piece of the outfield. Before his current stint on the injured list, Hernández had continued to provide the kind of middle-of-the-order thump that the Dodgers counted on when they brought him back. His absence left a noticeable hole — not just in terms of power numbers, but in lineup protection for Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Getting him back healthy and swinging well changes the complexion of the entire batting order.

The fact that Hernández is building up rather than simply rehabbing suggests the Dodgers are being methodical about his return. That’s smart. Rushing guys back has burned this team before, and with the trade deadline still a few weeks out, there’s no reason to push the envelope. The rehab assignment is clearly progressing in the right direction, and the language around his return — “appears near” — signals we could see him back in the lineup very soon, possibly within the week.

For the Dodgers, this is the kind of news you need when your injury list reads like a phone book. We’ve already been tracking Will Smith‘s neck issue, DJ Stewart‘s expected return, Brusdar Graterol‘s absence, and Blake Treinen hitting the IL with elbow inflammation. Getting Hernández back doesn’t fix everything, but it goes a long way toward stabilizing an outfield that has been held together with roster tape and minor league call-ups. His right-handed power is something the lineup badly needs, and his presence alone forces opposing managers to think twice about how they navigate the middle of the order. I like where this is headed.

Source(s): Staff (MLB.com) | First reported: June 22, 2026 4:06 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers