LOS ANGELES _ Four rookies are on the Los Angeles Dodgers' National League Division Series roster. A fifth, Tony Gonsolin, narrowly missed the cut. But none of them were with the club from the beginning this season. The only rookie on the Dodgers' opening day roster was outfielder Alex Verdugo.
And it sounds as though Verdugo, dealing with a back injury for a month, will not be on the roster for the end.
"As far as baseball activities, he's really not doing a whole lot," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "So to see him ready at all in this postseason, very unlikely."
Verdugo, 23, was placed on the injured list Aug. 6 with a strained oblique. He was scheduled to go on a rehab assignment the first week of September before rejoining the Dodgers. That plan was nixed when he injured his back on a swing in a game with the team's rookie-level affiliate Sept. 2. The rookie outfielder was with the team Thursday at Dodger Stadium before Game 1 of the NLDS. He was in workout gear. He said he's progressed with his conditioning program, but the rehab is slow. He said he hasn't swung a bat or thrown a baseball since injuring his back.
Verdugo batted .294 with 12 home runs and an .817 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 106 games. He was one of the Dodgers' best at avoiding strikeouts. If he remains with the team _ always an unknown after a long offseason _ he figures to play a consistent role in 2020 after producing at the plate while providing plus defense in the three outfield spots.
The Dodgers could've used his defense and high contact rate in October. Instead, Verdugo will be a spectator.
"It could change but just the trajectory he's on," Roberts said, "it just doesn't seem likely."
