The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without their spark plug for the foreseeable future.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Wednesday that utility man Kike Hernandez's MRI revealed a "significant tear" of his left oblique.
The Dodgers have recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Hernandez's spot on the roster.
There is currently no timetable for Hernandez's return. Hernandez, 34, opened the season on the 60-day injured list after undergoing elbow surgery following the World Series. The Dodgers just activated Hernandez from the IL on May 25 to make his season-debut.
But Hernandez lasted just two games before suffering another brutal injury. He went 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run and two RBI.
Hernandez started at third base in these two games in place of Max Muncy who has been dealing with right wrist soreness.
The Dodgers re-signed Hernandez to a one-year, $4.5 million deal at the beginning of spring training.
According to Roberts, Freeland will receive the majority of the playing time at second base over Hyeseong Kim.
This will likely only be for a few weeks though, as Tommy Edman just began his rehab assignment on Tuesday night.
Edman has missed the entire season so far after undergoing offseason ankle surgery. Like Hernandez, Edman brings depth and versatility to the Dodgers infield and outfield. Edman is expected to need the entirety of his rehab assignment after missing all of spring training and the regular season to this date.
Without Hernandez, the Dodgers have Freeland, Miguel Rojas and Tyler Fitzgerald as their only depth infielders on the 40-man roster.
The Dodgers enter play on Wednesday night with a 35-20 record and four game lead in the National League West division on the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. Los Angeles has the second most wins in all of baseball behind the Atlanta Braves.
