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Dodgers News: Carl Crawford Set To Return, Creating Difficult Situation

Lenny Ignelzi-AP Photo
Lenny Ignelzi-AP Photo

UPDATE (July 20, 1:00 p.m. PT): According to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, Carl Crawford expects the Los Angeles Dodgers to activate him from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday:

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Carl Crawford has battled and overcome his fair share of injuries during his tenure in Boston and Los Angeles. He’ll look to do it again now with his rehab assignment having concluded.

Crawford was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a torn oblique in late April and was later transferred to the 60-day DL. His rehab began with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and concluded with Triple-A Oklahoma City. In his final game with the OKC Dodgers, Crawford went 2-for-4 with one home run and three RBIs.

When asked to assess his time with the Triple-A affiliate, the 13-year-veteran was pleased with the results, via Jacob Unruh of NewsOK.com:

I think it went well,” Crawford said. “I feel good, I feel healthy. I was here long enough. I did everything I normally do, so I feel fine.

During his eight-game stint in Triple-A, Crawford batted .367/.375/.600 with the one home run, one triple, two doubles, six RBIs and eight runs scored. He also only struck out in three of his 32 plate appearances. Set to join the Dodgers on Monday in Atlanta, Crawford is eager to contribute:

Being down for so long, you get taken away from something like that, you obviously want to get back up and do the things you do.”

It’s unclear whether the Dodgers will reinstate Crawford on Monday or Tuesday, though manager Don Mattingly allowed his return is creating for a difficult situation, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News

It’s going to be a tough decision,” Mattingly said. “There’s already been conversations about it. There’s been back and forth, different ways to go with it.”

Activating Crawford from the 60-day DL will require two roster moves from the Dodgers — one to place him on the 40-man and another to get him on the 25-man active roster. Barring a player being placed on the DL, or a trade for that matter, Kiké Hernandez and Scott Van Slyke are candidates to be sent to the Minors as both have options remaining.

However, Van Slyke has often been the Dodgers’ answer to left-handed pitching whether playing any of the outfield spots or spelling Adrian Gonzalez. As for Hernandez, he too is a versatile and essentially is the only option to back up Jimmy Rollins at shortstop.

Alberto Callaspo could be designated for assignment, though that’s been the presumed move once Hector Olivera is ready to make his Major League debut. No matter how the Dodgers get Crawford on the active roster, Mattingly previously stated Andre Ethier will remain the starter in left field.

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Andre Ethier On Clutch Hitting And Comeback Wins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohUOVbqy4G8

Staff Writer

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