LOS ANGELES \u2014 The game of musical chairs that is the Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 active roster continued Friday afternoon. Before their series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers optioned a scuffling Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A Oklahoma City, placed Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez on the injured list with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, re-signed Santiago Espinal and recalled Ryan Ward. The slew of moves indicates another depth test for the Dodgers, despite them winning 12 of their last 14 games and surging to a season-high 16 games over .500.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always front of mind to be able to build depth, because things happen,\u201d general manager Brandon Gomes said Friday. \u201cSometimes they time out where they\u2019re on top of each other. The injuries being spaced out would obviously be a lot better, but that\u2019s not how it works out.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut right now we feel \u2014 knock on wood \u2014 that our depth is in a decent spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s break down the questions surrounding the current state of the Dodgers and how manager Dave Roberts is divvying up playing time among his new position group.<\/p>\n
Why was Kim optioned and Espinal re-signed?<\/p>\n
The Dodgers had contemplated sending Kim down throughout the week. Kim\u2019s chase rate had spiked, and the club felt he had regressed to swing habits they tried to break last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s some stuff in his setup, and it started to drift to a little bit more like what we saw last year,\u201d Gomes said. \u201cThought when he first came up, he\u2019d done some really good work with our hitting guys down in Triple A. So our guys are going to get together as a group and put together a plan and get with (hitting coach) Dylan (Nasiatka) in OKC and hopefully get him back to where he was earlier in the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kim showed much better plate discipline and pitch selection in April, areas the Dodgers stressed he needed to improve on. But throughout May, the whiff and strikeout rate started to climb. Kim owned a .553 OPS in May over 22 games with his season chase rate (29.26 percent), whiff rate (27 percent) and strikeout rate (23.7 percent) all worse than league average.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think his swing has changed,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cHe\u2019s losing his legs a little bit. I think he\u2019s coming around the ball a little bit, there\u2019s a lot more swing-and-miss than there was early. \u2026 He is just playing a little bit more tentative and not as free and easy as he was some parts of last year and early on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Espinal, who was designated for assignment Monday when Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez was activated off the 60-day injured list, returns in the same role he had. He\u2019ll be used for depth around the infield and could see time in the corner outfield if necessary. The Dodgers were hopeful they\u2019d be able to retain Espinal even before Hern\u00e1ndez landed back on the IL with a severe oblique strain. Espinal remained in the Los Angeles area, and when he cleared waivers, the club was eager to re-sign him. He will be in Saturday\u2019s starting lineup against Phillies left-hander Jes\u00fas Luzardo. To make room for Espinal on the 40-man roster, Blake Snell was transferred to the 60-day IL.<\/p>\n
Why did the Dodgers cut Espinal only to bring him back a few days later? The initial decision to designate Espinal for assignment was due to handedness and availability. With Hern\u00e1ndez returning, there was an overload of right-handed bench bats. The Dodgers ultimately elected to keep the left-handed Kim to balance out the lineup. After Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez and Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez were sidelined, it opened the door for another righty bat, and Espinal\u2019s defensive flexibility should help around the diamond as Roberts configures split playing time in left field and at second base.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a star-studded team, you also have to have guys that know their roles, and (Espinal) is a guy that is good on the team, understands his value, he\u2019s ready when called upon,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI trust him defensively, and I like him versus left-handed pitching.\u201d<\/p>\n
Who will play left field, and why wasn\u2019t James Tibbs III considered?<\/p>\n
Alex Call will split time with Ward, though Roberts stopped shy of declaring the playing time a full-on platoon. Ward has experience playing in the corner outfield, but the majority of his time in Triple A has come at first base. The playing time will be fluid, with Call expected to start against most lefties and Ward getting the nod versus most righties. Call\u2019s defense and speed \u2014 along with his innate ability to get on base \u2014 make him likelier to see more reps, as evidenced by his start Friday against right-hander Zack Wheeler.<\/p>\n
Why wasn\u2019t prospect James Tibbs III an option for a call-up? The Dodgers would like to give the 28-year-old Ward an extended look in the major leagues for the first time. Tibbs is mashing in Triple A, hitting .314 with a 1.047 OPS and 15 homers, but he\u2019s also been dealing with a minor forearm issue, which is why he has been limited to a designated hitter\u2019s role since May 6.<\/p>\n
James Tibbs III has also been dealing with a (minor) forearm issue, sources said, which is why he’s essentially been limited to DH duty since May 6. He’s on a throwing progression, and it’s not the reason for the decision, but explains why he hasn’t played outfield lately.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s performing great, obviously,\u201d Gomes said of Tibbs. \u201cThe numbers are fantastic. I just think Ward has done this for a while, and he\u2019s certainly earned it. His numbers were nothing to scoff at in Triple A either, especially when you break out the (versus right-handed pitching) stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n Ward hit .254\/.379\/.418 with six homers in 47 games for Oklahoma City. Even if he doesn\u2019t always start, given Ward\u2019s limited experience in the outfield, Call is the logical candidate to sub in as a defensive replacement when the score dictates. Ward should still see a chunk of playing time. It\u2019s not a perfect solution, but the Dodgers are comfortable patching it as such for now.<\/p>\n \u201c(Ward\u2019s) not going to be an (80-grade) defender out there, but I feel like he\u2019s played enough out there the last few years that he can hold it down,\u201d Roberts said.<\/p>\n