Dodgers’ Kiké Hernandez is ahead of schedule, targeting late-September return.

Kiké Hernandez

Kiké Hernandez had a .308/.350/.492 slash line in 71 games when he strained his left hamstring. (Getty Images)


ANAHEIM — Kiké Hernandez said Wednesday that he’s “about a week” ahead of schedule in his recovery from a strained left hamstring, and is now targeting a return in the final week of September.

“I’m doing everything except running,” he said.

Hernandez will try running for the first time when the Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday at Chase Field.

Hernandez said that he would like to return during the Dodgers’ series against the Diamondbacks at home (Sept 21-24) or against the Rockies in Colorado (25-27).

“At first we weren’t sure if I’d be back in time for the playoffs,” he said.

Hamstring injuries aren’t always straightforward. Howie Kendrick has seemingly been stuck on “99 percent” for a couple weeks now, unable to run the bases at full speed. He still hasn’t appeared in a rehab game.

Hernandez was the Dodgers’ starting center fielder at the time he went down. He is slashing .308/.350/.492 in 71 games this season, with six home runs and 21 runs batted in. He has played six different positions in the field and committed just three errors.

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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.