The Dodgers activated outfielder Jason Heyward from the disabled list on Sunday ahead of the final game of their weekend series against the Red Sox at Dodger Stadium.
Heyward missed 11 games with a bone bruise in his left knee that he sustained while diving for the right-field fence to block a home run by Joc Pederson on July 4. He’s been running and working on the outfield over the past week and took a few at-bats on Friday in Tyler Glasnow’s simulated game at Dodger Stadium.
Before his knee injury, Heyward was 3-for-35 at-bats and had fallen to a .203/.299/.398 slash line with a wRC+ of 99 for the season while playing in a strict platoon role with 94 percent of his plate appearances coming against right-handed pitchers, but he’s not the only Dodgers outfielder struggling.
Miguel Vargas, who made two additional starts in left field against right-handed pitchers during Heyward’s absence, hit consecutive home runs against the Brewers on July 5 and 6 but has not had a hit in his 20 at-bats since then, though he did walk twice on Friday and drove in Freddie Freeman’s game-tying grand slam.
After Heyward was placed on the disabled list on the 5th, James Outman was recalled and had three hits in his first five at-bats since his return, but over the next two weeks he went 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts and one hit by pitch. Outman was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for Heyward.
Hayward has been on the injured list for the second time this season after missing 40 games in April and May with a back injury.