Dodgers: Ranking most important injury returns over next few weeks

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Dodgers OF Cody Bellinger (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster was built to sustain injuries to key players, and that’s lucky for them, because the injury bug has been running rampant through their clubhouse in 2021.

If it feels like the Dodgers haven’t had their full complement of star talent in the same lineup this season, that’s because they largely haven’t, which makes it all the more impressive they currently sit just behind the overachieving Giants in the NL West.

It would take too long to rattle off how many players Los Angeles has seen hit the shelf this campaign, so let’s focus on current events. As thing stand, the Dodgers are without the likes of Max Muncy (oblique strain), Cody Bellinger (hamstring) and Corey Seager (hand fracture) from among their major players.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, however, their trio of stars are expected to be activated from the injured list in the near future. That got us thinking: where do Muncy’s, Bellinger’s and Seager’s respective returns rank in terms of importance and overall necessity?

3. Cody Bellinger

It wouldn’t have felt right giving any of these studs the No. 3 spot on this list, so we decided to give it to the player the Dodgers have been almost entirely without this season.

Bellinger was in the Dodgers’ lineup for just four games in 2020 before he suffered a hairline fracture in his left fibula that resulted in a six-week absence. The former NL MVP was active for just two weeks before left hamstring tightness forced him to hit the shelf again.

The Dodgers held out hope that Bellinger would avoid another stint on the injured list, but that proved to be wishful thinking, as he didn’t respond well to the injury.

Dodgers star Cody Bellinger’s return is important, but not as important as you’d think.

After taking a couple days off, manager Dave Roberts revealed last week that Bellinger was running at full speed on Wednesday and felt no discomfort recovering on Thursday.

That was a key hurdle Bellinger had to clear amid his quest to return to the diamond, and the Dodgers will be hoping their slugging outfielder gets through the rest of his recovery without suffering a setback, which are all too common with hamstring injuries.

The earliest Bellinger can be reinstated is Tuesday against the Padres, which would be a huge boost for the Dodgers against their division rivals. However, given that Bellinger’s been a non-factor this season, we had no other choice but to rank him No. 3 here.

Dodgers SS Corey Seager (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2. Corey Seager

The Dodgers haven’t skipped a beat during Corey Seager’s absence, so that means he doesn’t qualify for the No. 1 spot.

For context, Seager has been on the injured list since mid-May due to a right hand fracture he suffered after getting hit by a pitch against the Marlins. If you can believe it, the Dodgers rattled off eight (!) consecutive wins after Seager went down, and they’re 22-9 overall during that span.

That obviously isn’t to say the Dodgers are better without Seager — they literally wouldn’t have won the World Series last season if not for his postseason heroics — but they’ve managed to weather the storm during his absence, and there’s something to be said for that.

Dodgers SS Corey Seager is making progress in his recovery from a hand fracture.

The reigning World Series MVP has been out longer than Los Angeles expected, but he took batting practice on Friday for the first time since he hitting the shelf. Seager was already taking grounders and throwing with no restraints, and he’s progressed from hitting tennis balls to rejoining the team for live BP within a week’s time.

In other words, a rehab assignment is on the horizon for Seager, who was hitting .265/361/.422 with four home runs, 22 RBI and 20 runs scored over 37 games before the freak injury.

Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

1. Max Muncy

We’re just as surprised as you that we’re listing Max Muncy ahead of Bellinger and Seager in terms of whose return is most important, but can you really blame us?

After all, Muncy was tearing the absolute cover off the ball before suffering what was ultimately diagnosed as a mild oblique strain last week. This came after the 2019 All-Star missed time with an ankle injury, so Dodgers fans will be hoping this spell on the sidelines didn’t cool him down.

In 60 games, Muncy is slashing .264/.418/.528 with 14 home runs and 33 RBI. To put his season into perspective, his .418 OBP and 46 walks still lead MLB. The six-year pro has also scored 40 runs, smacked seven doubles and is posting a .947 OPS.

Max Muncy’s return cannot come soon enough for the Dodgers.

It’s not a stretch to say the Dodgers are a better team with Muncy in the lineup. It also isn’t a stretch to say Muncy is one of the very best players in baseball.

Taking that into account, fans will love hearing Muncy joined Los Angeles for batting practice before their series opener vs Arizona over the weekend. As long he gets through the next 24 hours without a setback, expect Muncy to be back in the lineup for Game 2 or 3 vs the Padres.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Pitching coach Mark Prior #99, Trevor Bauer #27 and Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walk out of the bullpen before the game against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium on June 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

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