The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Jason Heyward on the 10-day injured list due lower back tightness. The move makes room on the active roster for Taylor Trammell, who was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners earlier in the day.
Heyward was out of the Dodgers lineup on Monday night despite the San Francisco Giants starting a right-handed pitcher as he continues to deal with lower back trouble.
The 34-year-old was scratched from the finale of the exhibition Freeway Series, but he was back in the lineup for the Dodger Stadium opener last Thursday. He started again on Saturday, but he hasn’t played since going 1-for-5 in the Dodgers’ extra-innings loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Heyward went to visit Dr. Robert Watkins, spine surgeon for the Dodgers, and that he would “get some imaging” at that point, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. The results came back negative, but a decision was still made to give Heyward some extra time.
The veteran outfielder is in his second season with the Dodgers since initially joining the team on a Minor League contract. He signed a one-year, $9 million contract for the 2024 season after a bounce back 2023 campaign.
Heyward has just three hits in 14 at-bats across four games thus far in 2024, and he’s driven in two runs. He hit .269/.340/.473 with 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 40 RBI, 56 runs scored in 124 games last year, with nearly all his production coming against right-handed pitchers.
Taylor Trammell replaces Jason Heyward on Dodgers roster
Trammell is a left-handed hitting outfielder who has spent parts of three seasons with the Mariners. The 26-year-old is also a former top prospect who was drafted 35th overall in 2016, but he’s struggled to find his footing in the Majors.
He made his debut in 2021, but in 116 career games, he’s hit just .168/.270/.368 with 15 home runs, 45 runs scored, 29 RBI, four stolen bases and an 83 wRC+.
Matt Gage was released by the organization to make room on the 40-man roster for Trammell.
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