Editorials

Dodgers Activate Yasmani Grandal, Option Chris Heisey To Triple-A OKC

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

After successfully spending three games as the designated hitter for Triple-A Oklahoma City during the week, Yasmani Grandal was reinstated by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the seven-day concussion disabled list Saturday. Chris Heisey, not Austin Barnes, was optioned back to Triple-A in order to make room for Grandal on the active roster.

Heisey is only four days shy of reaching five years of Major-League service time, which would grant him the right to refuse any Minor-League assignment. He was recalled from Triple-A for a third time this season Wednesday when the Dodgers designated relief pitcher Sergio Santos for assignment.



The 30-year-old outfielder started the series finale against the Atlanta Braves and entered Friday’s game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning. In total, Heisey has appeared in five games with the Dodgers, making three starts and going 1-for-9 with five walks and four strikeouts.

The decision to keep Barnes on the active roster now gives the Dodgers three catchers, which coincidently matches the St. Louis Cardinals’ total. Barnes has started one game with the Dodgers, making his Major-League debut in a home game May 24 and going 1-for-3. He also replaced A.J. Ellis in the seventh inning of Friday’s game after the elder backstop was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

Grandal was 3-for-10 with one double, five walks, six runs scored and three strikeouts over his time with Oklahoma City. He struck out in all three of his plate appearances in Wednesday’s game, the middle of his rehab assignment, and was ejected in the fifth inning after being called out on strikes.

Grandal joined the Dodgers in St. Louis Friday, but refused to divulge what was said that resulted in the ejection. The 26 year old’s return is a pleasant sight for an offense that was shut out a fourth time in the last 10 games, with all four instances coming away from Dodger Stadium.

While the Dodgers managed six hits in the series opener against the Cardinals, they routinely failed to come up with a key hit when runners were on base. Grandal has started and hit second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in the lineup.

Dodgers’ four through seven hitters combined to go 3-for-15 Friday with three strikeouts. In 33 games Grandal is slashing .291/.403/.466, has four home runs, six doubles and 17 RBIs. After a slow start to the season, he turned the corner in May, hitting .400/.492/.660 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.

Ellis had just two hits and three walks in 19 plate appearances over seven games (five starts) since replacing Grandal in the fifth inning May 22. The incumbent Dodgers catcher struck out in all three of his at-bats Friday and is batting a lowly .137/.241/.176 in 17 games this season.

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