The Dodgers are planning to add outfielder Eddie Rosario to their roster as designated hitter Shohei Ohtani heads to the paternity list. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Edgardo Henriquez will be placed on the 60-day injured list. The team has not officially confirmed these moves yet. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic first noted Rosario’s presence with the team in Arlington and that Ohtani would be placed on the paternity list, while Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reported Henriquez would be the corresponding roster move.
Rosario, 33, joined the Dodgers on a minor league deal this offseason. He began the year with Triple-A Oklahoma City and has been red-hot, slashing .339/.406/.542 in 14 games—a strong performance, even accounting for the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. His .419 BABIP suggests some regression is likely, but he’s hit a couple of homers and is walking at an 11.6% clip.
Rosario has been known for his streaky play in recent seasons. The Dodgers are likely hoping to catch him during one of his hot stretches while Ohtani is away. From 2017 to 2020, he was a consistent offensive threat, posting a .281/.317/.493 slash and a 112 wRC+. His numbers dipped in early 2021 (.254/.296/.389, 88 wRC+), but after a trade to Atlanta, he caught fire, hitting .271/.330/.573 (137 wRC+). He was stellar in the NLCS, winning MVP honors with a .560/.607/1.040 line, though he cooled off in the World Series with a .227/.346/.318 performance.
His inconsistency has continued since. He hit .212/.259/.328 (63 wRC+) in 2022, improved slightly to .255/.305/.450 (100 wRC+) in 2023, then dropped again in 2024 to .175/.215/.316 (45 wRC+). That led to him signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers. After a slow spring (.154/.241/.423), he’s found his form in Triple-A.
Since paternity list stints last only one to three games, Rosario’s stay with the big league club might be brief. He could stay longer if he keeps hitting, but that would mean a tough roster decision. Andy Pages is the only position player with minor league options, and he’s currently seeing regular time in the outfield. Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernández haven’t hit much, but they offer more defensive versatility than Rosario, who’s limited to corner outfield spots.
As for Henriquez, he fractured his left foot under unclear circumstances in early March—described by manager Dave Roberts only as an off-field “mishap.” With this move, he won’t be eligible to return until mid-May at the earliest.
