Although there was never really any doubt that he wouldn’t, 14-year MLB veteran and four-time Gold Glove first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is beginning to heat up after spending nearly 10 weeks on the disabled list for what was diagnosed as lower back discomfort.

Since returning from the 60-day DL on August 18 following rehab assignments with the Dodgers Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers and Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the 35-year-old San Diego, California native has gone 6-for-31 at the plate. And while this represents only a .194 batting average, the 6′-2″ / 215-pound likely future Hall of Famer has been hitting the ball extremely hard and appears to be completely pain-free for the first time in over two years.

During the just-concluded four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Gonzales went 4-for-19 (.210). However, one of those four hits was a towering 402-foot home run. But what is even more encouraging is that of the other 18 at-bats, AGon singled three times, lined out very hard to short once and flied out six times. Of those six fly outs, several were caught on the warning track. Gonzalez struck out only three times during the four games and walked twice.

Heating up indeed.

It is abundantly clear that Dodgers veteran first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is once again healthy simply by watching how hard he is hitting the ball. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Gonzalez’s increasing success couldn’t come at a better time, with rookie phenom Cody Bellinger currently on the 10-day DL for a right ankle sprain suffered on August 19 while making a catch on the warning track in right field in a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The 21-year-old Scottsdale, Arizona native hit a soft spot in the warning track dirt and rolled his right ankle. And even though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the injury as minor, Bellinger will miss this weekend’s brief three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers rookie phenom Cody Bellinger went down in a heap after rolling his right ankle in a soft spot in the warning track dirt at Comerica Park on August 19. The young utility outfielder / first baseman will not return to action until at least Tuesday, when the Dodgers take on the Dbacks at Chase Field.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Needless to say, a 100 percent healthy Adrian Gonzalez and a soon-to-be 100 percent healthy Cody Bellinger will make an already outstanding Dodgers team even better.

What’s not to like about that?