Hanley Ramirez could be back as early as Tuesday’s game to try to help provide a boost to the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers. The infielder will be a welcomed addition to a team tied for the third least runs in the NL and presently in last place in the NL West.
Ramirez was the beginning of a significant face lift to the Dodgers, acquired last year for the beginning of the end in payroll in Miami.
After Hanley was added, Los Angeles pulled a blockbuster with the Boston Red Sox and added: Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto. The Dodgers went on to add Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu this past offseason, among others.
Ramirez, through just four games (April 29th-May 3rd) was 5/11 with a home run in 2013, but missed almost the entire first month recovering from injury and most of May with a hamstring injury.
Ramirez will start at either shortstop or third base with Juan Uribe and Nick Punto likely filling in the other position. Hanley went 1/3 in his only rehab game with a double but did not suffer any hamstring setbacks.