Alex Guerrero returns to Triple-A, “has a chance to be up here,” per Dodgers GM.

Alex Guerrero

Alex Guerrero could join the Dodgers in a utility infield role by the end of this season. (Associated Press photo)

 

SAN FRANCISCO >> Alex Guerrero‘s long road back from a vicious dugout fight in May has taken him back to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Guerrero’s rehab was transferred from Single-A Rancho Cucamonga today to Triple-A. The Isotopes are playing a game tonight in Reno, Nevada. It was in a game with Albuquerque that Guerrero had part of his left ear bitten off by Miguel Olivo in the visitors’ dugout in Salt Lake City.

“There’s a good chance had he not had the incident, he probably would’ve been here by now,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said.

Fortunately for the 27-year-old Cuban, doctors were able to surgically re-attach the missing portion of his ear, and subsequent skin-graft treatments were successful.

Guerrero “has a chance to be up here,” Colletti added, but it will probably not be in the second-base role that Dodgers management envisioned for him out of spring training. Dee Gordon won that job and established himself as the Dodgers’ everyday leadoff hitter — then an All-Star.

As for Guerrero?

“We see him as a player who’s going to be versatile defensively — second, third, shortstop, maybe some outfield eventually,” Colletti said.

Guerrero has played those infield positions in the minor leagues this season but hasn’t been used in the outfield.

This entry was posted in JP on the Dodgers, On The Farm and tagged , , by J.P. Hoornstra. Bookmark the permalink.

About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.