Daniel Hudson Activated, Nick Robertson Optioned & Ricky Vanasco Designated For Assignment

The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Daniel Hudson off the 60-day injured list and optioned Nick Robertson just before first pitch against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

The Dodgers additionally designated Ricky Vanasco for assignment in order to make room for Hudson on their 40-man roster. Vanasco was acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers at the beginning of the month.

Vanasco was assigned to the Arizona Complex League Dodgers earlier this week and made one appearance before joining Double-A Tulsa. The right-hander also pitched in just one game for the Drillers as well.

Meanwhile, Hudson returns after undergoing surgery one year ago for a torn ACL in his left knee. Hudson initially was projected to recover in time for Opening Day, but the process was slower than expected.

Hudson developed right ankle tendinitis and experienced lingering discomfort in his left knee after pitching off a mound. The tendinitis ultimately subsided and the knee trouble was treated with a cortisone injection in late May.

That wound up paving the way for the veteran relief pitcher to resume throwing and build up to a rehab assignment.

Hudson made eight rehab appearances (six starts) between the AZL Dodgers and Triple-A Oklahoma City, going a combined 1-0 without allowing an earned run and collecting 13 strikeouts over 8.1 innings.

He replaces Robertson in a Dodgers bullpen that’s been mired by inconsistency throughout much of the season. Robertson made his MLB debut and appeared in six games, allowing six runs over 7.2 innings pitched.

With Oklahoma City, Robertson is 2-0 with seven saves, a 2.13 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 24 games.

Dave Roberts excited to have Daniel Hudson in bullpen

Part of Hudson’s rehab assignment included pitching on back-to-back days as a means of clearing what had been a hurdle.

“It’s something that we tried months ago, and it just wasn’t happening,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said. “He wasn’t responding well. To see now the body is responding to the back-to-back, the up-down, really encouraging.

“He was part of the plan coming into the season, and we had the setback. He’s a high-leverage reliever that adds some consistency and calm to the ‘pen. If you look at how things have been going, that could be pretty helpful.”