Teoscar Hernandez Headed To IL With Oblique Injury, Likely Out Multiple Weeks

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2 min read • April 15, 2022

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MLB
Teoscar Hernandez Headed To IL With Oblique Injury, Likely Out Multiple Weeks

The Blue Jays placed right fielder Teoscar Hernandez on the 10-day IL on Wednesday after leaving last night's win over the Yankees with left side soreness.

Hernandez, 29, appeared to strain his oblique muscle while batting in the 6th inning. He came out of the batter's box slow and slammed his helmet into the turf after grounding out to second. 

The veteran right-hander will likely be out for longer than the 10-day minimum, according to our team of ProBaseballDocs, as oblique muscles are more essential for power hitters and can take longer to heal fully. 

Obliques are at the center of every motion baseball players use, from playing catch to reaching a ball on the outer edges of the strike zone. Home run hitters, however – Hernandez hit .296 with 32 bombs and 116 RBI in 2021 – gather more power from obliques in their twisting motion at the plate.

Yankees' superstar Aaron Judge notably missed 2 months in 2019 after suffering a late-April oblique strain. That is on the severe end of the spectrum but an indication of the impact an oblique injury can have on power hitters.

Outfielders Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer are expected to split time in right field. Neither are as explosive as Hernandez at the plate, with Tapia posting a .699 OPS with 69 runs last season and Zimmer knocking in 35 RBI with 44 runs on a .669 OPS.