The Dodgers re-signed Santiago Espinal as the team reshaped its roster after Teoscar Hernández and Enrique Hernández landed on the injured list, recalling Ryan Ward from Triple-A and moving Blake Snell to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man spot.
Just after 8 p.m., the Dodgers put their churn on full display, announcing a cluster of roster moves that all point back to the same pressure: multiple key hitters and infield options were suddenly unavailable.
Los Angeles officially announced the moves along with yesterday’s placement of Teoscar Hernández on the injured list. while recalling Ryan Ward from Triple-A. To make room. the Dodgers opened a spot on the 40-man roster by transferring Blake Snell from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Snell was already expected to miss time beyond the All-Star Break after undergoing the NanoScope elbow procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow.
Earlier in the evening, the Dodgers confirmed they are re-signing infielder/outfielder Santiago Espinal. The move comes with a corresponding active-roster transaction: infielder/outfielder Hyeseong Kim will be optioned. The team entered the day with a full 40-man roster, leaving no wiggle room without another procedural adjustment.
Espinal’s return is notable because he was just off the roster on Monday. when Enrique Hernández came off the injured list. But the situation quickly changed. Enrique Hernández suffered a significant oblique tear and has gone right back on the injured list. Teoscar Hernández also landed on the IL this week, this time with a hamstring strain.
The roster math is also reflecting how Kim has been trending. His .259/.323/.328 line for the whole year isn’t awful, producing an 87 wRC+, but his recent stretch has fallen off. When the calendar flipped to May, Kim was hitting .296/.371/.389; since then, he has posted .226/.279/.274.
Espinal isn’t expected to be a major offensive lift either. He has a .220/.238/.366 line on the year. Still, the Dodgers appear to be balancing immediate need with long-range planning—especially with Kim, who is 27 and signed through 2027 with club options for 2028 and 2029.
Espinal is 31 and not signed long-term, which makes his role feel more like a short-term bench solution. The idea. at least in the shape of these moves. seems to be that Kim benefits from consistent at-bats in the minors rather than sitting on the roster while the team deals with its latest injury setbacks.
In addition to bat-related value, Espinal’s utility is part of the appeal. He has experience at all four infield spots, as well as the outfield corners, giving the Dodgers flexibility to shuffle players as matchups and lineups demand.
As the Dodgers juggle the injured list and the calendar. the sequence of moves has become a kind of scoreboard: Ward gets a recall. Snell’s timeline shifts to the 60-day IL. and the active roster goes from needing a reshuffle for Enrique Hernández’s return to once again needing depth after his oblique tear sent him back.
For now, the team is trying to keep its footing with short-term options while making sure its longer-term investment in Kim doesn’t stagnate. Alex Freeland was recalled when Enrique Hernández went back on the IL, and he should get the bulk of the second base playing time in the near future.
Los Angeles Dodgers Santiago Espinal Hyeseong Kim Enrique Hernández Teoscar Hernández Ryan Ward Blake Snell injured list roster moves