Dodgers: Chris Taylor hits three run homer in first rehab game

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 04: Chris Taylor #3 in the dugout after scoring a run on a sacrifice fly by Alex Verdugo #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 04: Chris Taylor #3 in the dugout after scoring a run on a sacrifice fly by Alex Verdugo #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Dodgers’ super-utility man Chris Taylor played the first game of his rehab stint on Thursday night.  It was a very good game for him as he hit a three-run home run.

Almost a month to the day that Dodgers’ utility man Chris Taylor last appeared in a big-league game, he began his rehab stint on Thursday night.  The first stop on Taylor’s rehab stint is a local one as he joined the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.  It was a very good first game for CT3 as he went 2-3 with a three-run home run.

CT3 finished with three RBI’s in the game and a single to go along with his three-run shot. He was removed in the fifth inning after getting three at-bats to kick off his rehab stint.  Defensively, Taylor played shortstop which is likely due to the fact that he is Corey Seager’s main backup at shortstop when healthy.

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Chris Taylor had a rough start to his season as he hit below .200 in April but he turned things around in May and June as he put up an OPS above .900 in both months.  He then went back to having a tough time in July right before he was hit by a pitch and placed on the injured list.  Taylor was hit by a 92 MPH fastball thrown by Heath Hembree in the 12th inning of a Sunday night matchup with the Red Sox.

The official diagnosis for Taylor was a fractured left forearm that resulted in a month on the IL.  Taylor’s injury along with Enrique Hernandez’s hand injury led to the acquisition of Kristopher Negron.

Once Taylor and Hernandez are healthy it will lead to a roster crunch with Tyler White and Negron being two potential players on the outside looking in.  Hernandez is expected to begin his rehab assignment as soon as this weekend.  His rehab will likely begin in Rancho Cucamonga as well.

Next. Dustin May appears headed for the bullpen. dark

Chris Taylor is having a very good season against left-handed pitching.  He has a .908 OPS against southpaw pitching so when he returns he will be a part of the Dodgers’ answer to left-handed starters.  The former NLCS co-MVP will look to get back before September and get back into the swing of things before the postseason.