Dodgers News: AJ Pollock Aiming to Rejoin Team on Friday
The Dodgers are set to get another weapon back this week. AJ Pollock has been nursing a hamstring injury since May 7th. Ultimately, he hit the injured list one week after initially suffering the strain.
Now, Dave Roberts says he’s expecting his outfielder back on this upcoming road trip.
#Dodgers AJ Pollock could be back this weekend against Atlanta if all goes well in his next two rehab games.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) May 31, 2021
Pollock has been out on a minor league rehab assignment with the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and is 0-4 with a walk so far in 2 games. However, the big test has been testing that injured hamstring on defense. AJ was the designated hitter in his first game and played 5 innings in left field in that second game.
The Quakes were off on Monday but will play their next 6 games at home against the Inland Empire 66ers. Pollock will likely play Tuesday and Wednesday with the team before rejoining the Dodgers as they travel to Atlanta on Thursday.
At the big league level this season, the 33-year-old is batting .277 with 4 home runs and 17 runs batted in over 32 games. He was in the midst of a 7-17 (.412) hot streak when his hamstring gave out.
One area where things get hard for the Dodgers is in a corresponding roster move for Pollock. The club has been playing with a short bench for weeks while waiting for Tony Gonsolin to get healthy and join the rotation as the fifth starter. In the interim, Dave has opted with bullpen games which has forced the team to carry 14 pitchers.
NEXT: Tony Gonsolin Set to Return Next Week
And opting for BP games and playing short a position player WILL come back to haunt Roberts and sorry to say, but it would serve Roberts right. Now Treinen has some issue that Roberts is concealing and its getting ridiculous the way he and Dodgrrs are dealing with these things. Never fear, these BP games will burn out this BP later in year if some moves aren’t made.