As is the case with most teams when they reach and then cross the midway point of a 162-game MLB season, the Los Angeles Dodgers currently have a number of players dealing with injuries.
Fortunately for L.A., they have more depth than perhaps any other team in baseball and have received contributions from a number of different Minor League call-ups while the regulars have been out or limited.
With the All-Star break quickly approaching, it appears the Dodgers are close to getting some players back. A.J. Pollock, who has been sidelined the longest, remains on track to begin a rehab assignment.
A couple of other position players are ahead of him though, as Corey Seager may be activated without playing in any rehab games, and David Freese is due to return during the weekend series with the San Diego Padres, per Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
David Freese will be activated Friday or Saturday. A.J. Pollock could go on a rehab assignment Friday. Corey Seager might not go on one before returning.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) July 2, 2019
Freese has been out since June 20 with a left hamstring strain, although the injury was not all that serious. He was in the midst of a strong season before going down, hitting .308/.407/.592 with eight home runs, 30 runs scored and 23 RBI in limited opportunities.
With Freese being one of the older veterans on the team, his workload is intentionally being managed so he can be healthy come October.
Seager has been out a little longer than Freese as he went down on June 11, also with a left hamstring strain. The original timeline for Seager was expected to be around four to six weeks, so it looks like he may be a little ahead of schedule.
Considering Seager has dealt with a number of injuries over the last few years, it is a bit surprising to see that the Dodgers aren’t sending him out for a rehab assignment to ensure that he is 100% healthy before activating him.
In 66 games this season, Seager is hitting .278/.359/.468 with eight home runs, 40 runs scored and 38 RBI. He got off to a slow start after missing almost all of 2018 due to Tommy John and hip surgeries but was playing the best he had all season before suffering the hamstring strain.
