Teoscar Hernández left the Dodgers’ game against Colorado on May 27, 2026, after straining his left hamstring while trying to beat out a ground ball to shortstop in the second inning. He was visibly frustrated as he came out of the game, and Hyeseong Kim took over in left field for the top of the third.
The Dodgers had not announced anything beyond confirming the apparent hamstring strain, but more information was expected in the next day or two after Hernández goes for imaging. Even if the injury turns out to be lower grade, it would be a surprise if he avoids the injured list, a blow for a lineup that has leaned on his bat all month. Hernández was hitting.329 in May with three home runs and four doubles.
The timing matters because the Dodgers were already dealing with another roster hit. Kiké Hernández was placed back on the injured list with a significant oblique tear, and Alex Freeland was promoted from Triple-A to replace him on the active roster. Before the game, manager Dave Roberts said Freeland would get the majority of the second base playing time, underscoring how quickly Los Angeles has had to reshuffle its infield depth.
Kim’s move into left field was notable on its own. It was his first MLB work there, and it came in a game the Dodgers were still trying to finish with a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning. If they closed it out, they would move 4.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks and Padres in the NL West. But the larger question now is whether Hernández’s hamstring issue turns a strong May into an absence of well over a month.
