The Los Angeles Dodgers recently activated Dalton Rushing from the injured list, despite him not being ready to throw and play defense yet.
Rushing suffered a partial UCL tear that landed him on the injured list for nearly a month. The team needed his bat and decided it was worth bringing him back while he continues a throwing progression. The plan was likely to use him as a pinch hitter, but Shohei Ohtani's injury issues opened the door for him to play a little more.
On Saturday, Rushing was supposed to start as the designated hitter, but he was scratched after his arm flared up pregame. He is still in his throwing progression, but he will now get imaging, per MLB.com's Sonja Chen.
Roberts did not shut down the idea of Rushing going on the injured list. He also noted that hitting is still on the table for him.
"I still believe that hitting is on the table," Roberts said, per Chen. "We'll just see how it feels tomorrow."
If Rushing is unable to throw again this year, his role will be limited to pinch-hitting. When Shohei Ohtani is ready to go again, Rushing will be unable to serve as the designated hitter. The question the Dodgers face is whether it's worth keeping Rushing on the roster if all he can provide is one pinch-hit at-bat a game.
The only other way for him to play is as a designated hitter, but Ohtani is going to be in the lineup every day when he's ready.