Dodgers left-handed pitcher Snell placed on 60-day injured list; Teoscar has hamstring strain, expected to miss one month

Los Angeles Dodgers two-time Cy Young Award-winning left-handed ace Blake Snell was diagnosed with loose bodies in his left elbow a few weeks ago and then received surgical treatment. Prior to today's Dodgers-Phillies matchup, the club moved Snell to the 60-day injured list, and skipper Dave Roberts provided an update on his recovery in a conversation with reporters.

Snell recently completed surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. Although his return timeline is not yet set, he could be back sooner than originally anticipated. According to U.S. media reports, the nano-arthroscopy procedure Snell underwent is the same method used on Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. This innovative treatment approach is expected to shorten Snell's rehabilitation period.

Earlier, after the Dodgers placed Snell on the 60-day injured list, they selected 31-year-old utility player Santiago Espinal—who had been designated for assignment—to fill the roster spot, allowing him to return to the 40-man roster.

Roberts recently spoke about Snell's injury and surgical recovery: "The surgery was successful, and everything is going as planned. The nano technique is obviously a good thing, so the recovery time has been greatly shortened. I don't have a specific timeline, just that it's shorter than we initially thought." Although Roberts did not give a concrete return date for Snell, it is widely believed that he could rejoin the major league club in late July or August. Given the Dodgers' depth in pitching, Snell can take ample time to rest and complete a full rehabilitation program in the minors.

This season, Snell has made only one appearance for the Dodgers, starting against the Atlanta Braves at home on May 10. He pitched just three innings, allowing six hits and five runs (four earned), with five strikeouts and two walks, resulting in an inflated ERA of 12.00 after that outing.

Dodgers outfield slugger "Señor Octubre" Teoscar Hernandez recently landed on the injured list due to a left hamstring strain. The results of his MRI have now been confirmed as a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. Although it is the mildest grade, Hernandez is still expected to miss approximately one month.

"I'll probably be out for about a month, hoping it's shorter. The doctor told me that if I had pushed through, it could have turned into a three- or four-month injury," Hernandez admitted, adding that this is a bit of a silver lining in an unfortunate situation. The 33-year-old Hernandez suffered the hamstring strain while running to first base during a recent game against the Rockies. Broadcast footage showed him visibly upset upon returning to the dugout, even throwing his helmet in frustration—clearly aware of the severity right away.

Manager Roberts emphasized that the team will be extra cautious this time: "Hamstring injuries are tricky like that. We'll give him enough time to recover. Especially as the season moves into summer, if we rush him back and he gets re-injured, the cost would be much greater. We will be very attentive to his recovery progress and arrange rehab games to ensure everything is fully good before he returns to game shape."

Furthermore, general manager Brandon Gomes also stressed that the team will take a more conservative approach this time: "Once he starts rehab, we hope to get him back as soon as possible, and we'll schedule rehab games to help him adjust." Gomes noted that last year the team may have been too hasty with Hernandez's injury: "Last time, we might have brought him back too quickly. So over the next few days, we'll focus on treatment first and then see how his body responds after recovery. The good news is that this injury is not as serious as we initially feared."

The Dodgers have called up Ryan Ward, the 2025 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player, from Triple-A to fill the roster spot. Ward, 28, is the Dodgers' 19th-ranked prospect. He has posted a .254 batting average with six home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .379 on-base percentage in Triple-A this season. He also had a brief stint in the majors earlier this year, going 2-for-6 with an RBI in two games. Additionally, the Dodgers plan to have him share left field duties with another outfielder, Alex Call. Tommy Edman, who is currently rehabbing in Triple-A, could also see some time in left field upon his return, in addition to playing second base.

Hernandez revealed that this injury feels different from the groin issue that bothered him throughout last season: "Last year was the groin, which affected almost every movement I made, especially in baseball where you use that area a lot. But this time, if I really rest well and follow the recovery plan, I believe the hamstring should heal quickly—maybe even sooner than expected." He added, "I'll take it slow. If resting a few extra weeks means I can come back 100% healthy and help the team all the way to the end of the season, that's what matters most."

In fact, before his groin injury last year, Hernandez was off to a hot start, hitting .315 with nine home runs and a 155 OPS+ over his first 33 games. However, after returning, his performance declined significantly, producing only a .223 batting average and an 84 OPS+ over the remaining 101 games. Roberts commented that the team will not take any risks this time: "Being fooled once is enough. Last year, he kept saying he felt fine and wanted to come back, but looking back, he clearly wasn't fully recovered. We won't make the same mistake again."

Hernandez remains a key piece of the Dodgers' lineup this season, currently boasting a .276 batting average with seven home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .785 OPS. On May 23 against the Brewers, he drove in a career-high-tying six runs in a single game, leading the Dodgers to an 11-3 victory.