Teoscar to be out 'a while' with groin strain; Dodgers recall Outman, Feyereisen

MIAMI -- The Dodgers are preparing to be without a key piece of their lineup for the near future. Teoscar Hernández was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain ahead of Tuesday's 5-4 walk-off loss against the Marlins, one day after being removed from the opener at loanDepot park due to the injury.

Hernández underwent an MRI that revealed a Grade 1 strain in his left adductor, according to manager Dave Roberts, who did not specify a timeline for Hernández's return but acknowledged that the Dodgers would be without their everyday right fielder for "weeks."

"He’s going to be inactive for a while," Roberts said. "I don’t know a timetable. That’s all contingent on when he starts back up again. Unfortunately, we’re going to lose him for a little bit."

Los Angeles recalled outfielder James Outman from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill Hernández's roster spot. He wasn't the only reinforcement from the Comets. Reliever J.P. Feyereisen was brought up as a fresh arm (righty Yoendrys Gómez was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot), and right-hander Landon Knack rejoined the team as well. Knack is not active, but he's expected to handle a bulk pitching role in Wednesday's finale in Miami.

Per Roberts, Hernández first felt tightness in his hamstring and adductor in the bottom of the third inning in Monday's 7-4 win, when he broke for a ball in the right-center-field gap. There was no visual indication that anything was wrong at the time, but Hernández was replaced in right field when the Dodgers came back out for the bottom of the fourth.

Hernández went 2-for-2 with an RBI before being removed. He was hitting .315 with a .933 OPS and had driven in a Major League-leading 34 runs at the time of his injury.

"Without Teo, you’re trying to balance out the lineup," Roberts said. "A guy that can take professional at-bats, drive in runs -- he’s certainly going to be missed."

With both Hernández and utility man Tommy Edman on the IL, Roberts said the Dodgers have "more of a platoon-based roster right now." In particular, second base and center field could be the main question marks as the roster stands, because center fielder Andy Pages could see more time in right in the absence of Hernández.

Pages started in right field on Tuesday, with Outman drawing the start in center and Hyeseong Kim making his second straight start at second base. Roberts acknowledged that Outman and Kim -- both left-handed hitters capable of playing center field -- could have some decent runway until Edman's return, which will likely come sometime next week when the Dodgers are back in L.A.

When Kim was called up from Oklahoma City on Saturday, the former KBO star's opportunities were expected to be somewhat limited with the team anticipating a short IL stint for Edman. Now, Kim has a chance to prove he deserves extended time at the big league level.

Outman, too, has something to prove after a down 2024. After a slow start with the Comets, he turned things around in the second half of April, putting up an .830 OPS with eight homers and 27 RBIs across 32 games at the Triple-A level.