The Los Angeles Dodgers own a 33-20 record and the best mark in the National League West, but returning Kiké Hernandez to the active roster Monday created a roster crunch the front office will need to address.
Henrnandez completed a 12-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, going 9-for-42 with two doubles, one triple and three RBI before closing out the stint 0-for-4.
Hernandez's return to the club is on near-perfect timing, as veteran third baseman Max Muncy is also unavailable due to a wrist injury. However, with Hernandez back, someone will have to give up their roster spot, and the decision comes down to two infielders producing below expectations.
Hyesong Kim has seen his production fall off in May, hitting .214 with 17 strikeouts and a .535 OPS. His Statcast profile explains why: Kim's average exit velocity is at 85 mph and a 21 percent hard-hit rate, among the lowest in the league. The speed and the glove are still there, but he's not squaring the ball up.
In 26 games this season, Santiago Espinal has nine hits, including a home run, four RBI, for a .604 OPS. His average exit velocity and hard-hit rate are not that much higher than Kim's at 86 mph and 35.1 percent, respectively.
Another thing to note is Kim's three-year, $12.5 million contract which gives the organization a financial stake in seeing him figure it out. Espinal's strong exit-velocity data is noteworthy, but at 31 and on a restructured minor-league deal with a crowded infield, there's no clear path to playing time. Hernandez who played all over the field during his rehab assignment, will take on the utility role Espinal had.
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The Dodgers have given Espinal a good enough opportunity. The data suggests that he deserved a little more time, but the roster math does not balance out.
