Teoscar Hernández Blasted Three Homers in Four Games, And the National League Isn't Ready
Alright, Seattle, listen up! While we're out here bleeding green and blue, focused on our own grind, there's some buzz coming from down south that, frankly, makes our path a little tougher. Yep, the Dodgers, those guys, just got a whole lot scarier. Teoscar Hernández is OFF the injured list and officially back in their lineup. After a full month sidelined with a strained left hamstring, he's been activated, and you know what that means: more slug from that stacked roster.The Big Comeback They're Bragging About
So, Teoscar spent his rehab stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City, first in Reno, then West Sacramento, before the Dodgers pulled the trigger and optioned outfielder Ryan Ward back to Oklahoma City to make room. And get this: the Dodgers still went 18-10 in the 28 games he was out. Ugh, right? Even with a key guy down, they just keep chugging along. Their manager, Dave Roberts, isn't shy about it, either. He said Teoscar's return "changes the dynamic and the length of the lineup." He’s talking "added slug" whether Teo hits fifth, sixth, or seventh. They're clearly looking to maximize that bat. They're taking it slow this time, though. Last year, Teoscar apparently rushed back from a groin strain and it messed with him all season. This time, he actually played four games in left field for the Comets, even logging a full nine innings on Saturday. They're easing him in, probably four or five starts his first week, especially since they don't have an off-day until July 9. Smart play, but still annoying for everyone else.Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
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What This Means for L.A.'s Loaded Lineup
Before Teoscar came back, left field was a platoon situation with Ward, Alex Call, and Tommy Edman all seeing time out there. Now, Teoscar slides right back into his starting role, pushing Call back to the fourth outfielder spot. Edman, who's still useful in the outfield, will mostly see time at second base and occasionally spell Max Muncy at third. Where will Teoscar bat? Somewhere in the middle-third of that already insane lineup. His bat could be a huge boost for them. You want a stat? Among Dodgers with at least 50 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, Teoscar's .862 OPS ranks fourth, behind only Andy Pages, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani. That's some serious company, and it means he can get it done when it counts. He didn't exactly light up Triple-A with his batting average, going just 3-for-14 (.214) in those four rehab games. But get this: *all three of those hits left the yard.* Three homers in four games! Roberts tried to play it cool, saying "Triple-A pitching is not comparative to big league pitching. I think we all know that." Yeah, thanks, Captain Obvious. But then he added, "But if he's healthy, he's an easy guy to bet on." And before he hit the IL, Teoscar was on fire, batting .367 with seven extra-base hits in 18 games. So yeah, the power is there. Look, while those guys are getting stronger, our Mariners are out here battling. Today was a tough one, with our boys falling 6-5 to the Guardians. Every single game matters right now as we push through the early season. Let's keep that T-Mobile Park energy cranked for our squad. We got this, Seattle!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.