Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez hasn't played since Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, but that hasn't stopped the team's momentum. The Dodgers have won two of their three games since then, and the only loss was a 4-3 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.
Los Angeles bounced back with a 9-1 win over Philadelphia on Sunday, clinching the series win. Left fielder Ryan Ward, who's playing in place of Hernandez, logged his first big-league homer with a 400-foot solo shot in the fourth.
The home run was not only a milestone, but a reminder of why the 28-year-old is the Dodgers' No. 19 prospect. He has an .841 OPS over 725 minor-league games since 2019, and now he's finally getting his moment at the top level.
Ward revealed how he felt after the homer, via The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.
"Kind of a blackout, if I’m going to be honest with you,” he said. “Hit it, and I just went numb."
Ryan Ward Buys Dodgers Time With Teoscar Hernandez
© William Liang-Imagn Images
Ward has only played three MLB games this season, the first of his career. However, Hernandez's injury gives Los Angeles the opportunity to finally get him extended playing time in the big leagues without sacrificing wins.
The Dodgers have won 14 of their last 17 games, and switching Hernandez for Ward isn't likely to throw them off track. Hernandez is tied for fifth on the team with a 0.9 WAR and is slashing .276/.348/.436 with seven homers and 31 RBIs over 51 games, but they have enough talent to thrive without his contributions.
Los Angeles tops MLB with a .792 team OPS and is third in homers (83) and runs (314). In addition to stars like designated hitterShohei Ohtani (.894 OPS) and first basemanFreddie Freeman (.827 OPS), other players have stepped up such as outfielder Andy Pages (.881 OPS) and third baseman Max Muncy (.888 OPS).
The Dodgers lead the NL West at 38-21, 5.5 games ahead of the second-place San Diego Padres. They're in the rare position of being able to experiment with unproven players and not fall out of contention, which is why they should be in no rush to remove Ward from the lineup.
Ideally, Los Angeles will use Hernandez regularly again by July, as he's on a three-year, $66 million deal (per Spotrac). He's also estimated to be ready by early July, per MLB.com. But getting Ward more reps in the meantime could help it develop another long-term outfield option, and MLB teams can never have too much depth.
Up next for the Dodgers is a road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks starting on Monday night, with the game beginning at 9:40 p.m. ET.
