Dave Roberts Hints at Teoscar Hernández Role Change as Dodgers Weigh Left-Handed Call-Up
The Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing to make at least one notable roster decision when rosters expand Tuesday.
And that decision could have a direct impact on Teoscar Hernández.
Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers are still discussing which position player they will add when rosters expand from 26 to 28 players, but he made one part of the plan fairly clear: he expects the addition to be a left-handed hitter.
That immediately raises two questions.
Who gets the call?
And how much does that player cut into Hernández’s playing time?
Roberts acknowledged that he plans to speak with the Dodgers’ hitting coaches and front office about what is best for Hernández and the team as Los Angeles enters September. He also emphasized that Hernández remains an important part of the club.
So this should not be framed as Teoscar losing his job.
But it does sound like the Dodgers are preparing to be more selective about when and how they use him.
Dodgers Want Another Left-Handed Bat
The timing makes sense.
Will Smith is expected to return from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, but because the Dodgers are unlikely to carry three catchers, that activation should still leave room for another position-player addition.
Roberts said his preference is likely to be a left-handed bat.
That would give Los Angeles another matchup option off the bench and could also help balance a lineup that has struggled for extended stretches during the second half.
The Dodgers do have several possibilities.
Some are easier roster moves than others.
James Tibbs III May Be the Most Intriguing Option
James Tibbs III is the name generating the most attention.
Tibbs is a left-handed-hitting outfielder who has spent the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City and has continued to show the offensive ability that made him one of the more interesting hitters in the organization.
He is also coming off a recent four-hit game in which he homered twice for the Comets.
There are two reasons Tibbs stands out.
First, the Dodgers could use another left-handed hitter with some offensive upside.
Second, Tibbs did not play Sunday for Oklahoma City, which naturally increased speculation that the organization may be preparing him for a move. DodgerBlue identified him as perhaps the most likely candidate among the left-handed options.
But there is an important complication.
Tibbs is not currently on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Calling him up would therefore require Los Angeles to make an additional 40-man move.
That does not rule him out.
It simply makes a Tibbs promotion more consequential than recalling someone who already occupies a roster spot.
And as of now, the Dodgers have not announced that Tibbs is being promoted.
So he should be treated as a strong possibility — not a confirmed call-up.
Ryan Ward Would Be the Familiar Choice
Ryan Ward is another clear candidate.
Unlike Tibbs, Ward is already on the 40-man roster and has Major League experience this season.
The Dodgers recalled Ward in May when Hernández went on the injured list with a hamstring strain. MLB reported at the time that Ward had earned the opportunity after years of strong production in Triple-A.
Ward also fits the handedness requirement.
He bats left-handed and has experience playing both the outfield and first base.
That makes him one of the easiest moves from a roster-management standpoint.
The question is whether the Dodgers want a familiar bench option or believe another player can provide more offensive upside.
Ward’s recent Triple-A production has cooled somewhat. Over his last 15 games, he was hitting .195 with two home runs and nine RBIs.
That does not eliminate him from consideration.
It does make the decision less automatic.
Hyeseong Kim Offers a Different Skill Set
Hyeseong Kim is also firmly in the conversation.
MLB specifically lists Kim among the Dodgers’ left-handed options already on the 40-man roster.
Kim was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 29 so he could work on his swing after spending part of the season with Los Angeles.
His 2026 Major League line currently sits at .259 with a .323 on-base percentage and .651 OPS in 116 at-bats, while he has hit .268 with 13 stolen bases in Triple-A.
Kim would offer something different from Tibbs or Ward.
He brings speed, defensive versatility and Major League experience.
If the Dodgers are looking primarily for a bench player who can pinch-run, defend multiple spots and give Roberts flexibility late in games, Kim makes plenty of sense.
If they want the biggest possible offensive jolt, Tibbs may be the more interesting option.
Alex Freeland Is Another Name to Watch
There is one more player worth including.
MLB lists Alex Freeland alongside Kim and Ward as left-handed hitters already on the 40-man roster.
Freeland gives the Dodgers another infield option and has long been viewed as one of the more advanced position players in the organization.
He may not be generating quite as much public speculation as Tibbs, but from a pure roster standpoint, he belongs in the conversation.
That gives the Dodgers at least four plausible paths:
James Tibbs III — highest-profile offensive possibility, but requires a 40-man move.
Ryan Ward — familiar left-handed bat with MLB experience.
Hyeseong Kim — speed, defense and versatility.
Alex Freeland — another 40-man option with infield flexibility.
What Does This Mean for Teoscar Hernández?
This is where the roster decision becomes more interesting.
Hernández has struggled for much of the season, but he has been more productive against left-handed pitching.
That makes a more matchup-driven role increasingly logical.
Roberts suggested Sunday that the Dodgers may reduce some of Hernández’s starts depending on how the roster is constructed and which matchups they face.
The timing was almost ironic.
Hernández then launched a 434-foot two-run homer against left-hander Framber Valdez in Sunday’s 6-1 win over Detroit.
That home run provided exactly the kind of production Los Angeles wants from him.
It also reinforced why the Dodgers are not simply giving up on Hernández.
The more likely scenario is that Roberts becomes more selective.
Against certain left-handers, Hernández could remain a regular.
Against some right-handers, a left-handed addition could take more of the playing time.
That would effectively create a soft platoon without completely removing Hernández from the lineup.
Roberts Has Already Shown He Is Willing to Adjust
The Dodgers have spent much of the season giving established hitters time to work through struggles.
That patience may be approaching its limit.
Roberts recently said there are times when he gives players more of a leash “until I can’t,” and acknowledged that August provided a significant sample size as the Dodgers evaluate which players they trust heading into the postseason.
That comment is important.
September is not just another month.
It is the final audition for October roles.
The Dodgers will be evaluating who is producing, who fits specific matchups and which combinations give them the best chance to win postseason games.
That means reputation alone may not guarantee everyday playing time.
Rushing Is Not Ready Yet
One left-handed option who should not be expected Tuesday is Dalton Rushing.
The Dodgers still hope to get Rushing back this season after the partial tear in his right UCL, and he has started a throwing progression.
But MLB reports he will not be ready when rosters expand.
His catching availability also remains uncertain.
If he does return later in September, it could be primarily as a hitter.
That gives Los Angeles another potential lineup decision down the road.
For now, though, Tuesday’s left-handed addition will have to come from somewhere else.
Dodgers Have an Interesting Decision Coming
The Dodgers do not have to announce anything until they are ready.
But Roberts has already revealed enough to make the plan clear.
Los Angeles wants another left-handed bat.
That player could become part of the club’s September bench.
And depending on who gets the call, Hernández could see fewer starts as Roberts begins managing the lineup more aggressively around matchups.
Tibbs may offer the most upside.
Ward offers familiarity.
Kim offers versatility and speed.
Freeland offers another 40-man option.
None has been officially chosen.
That is what makes Tuesday worth watching.
The Dodgers are no longer simply trying to get healthy.
They are beginning to shape the roster they expect to take into October.
And for Teoscar Hernández, that could mean his role looks different when September begins.