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Carl Crawford DH for now, could see field soon

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Eric Stephen | True Blue LA

Crawford last played in a game on Aug. 19.

The Dodgers, now with 100% more Carl Crawford, play a pair of games on St. Patrick's Day, their final split squad day of the spring. They host the Brewers at Camelback Ranch and hit the road to face the Diamondbacks.

Crawford makes his debut for the Dodgers as designated hitter in the home game against Milwaukee, and manager Don Mattingly said Crawford would play as long as he wanted on Sunday. In addition, Crawford will be the designated hitter on Monday and Tuesday for the Dodgers.

Crawford had 17 plate appearances in minor league games over the last three days.

"It sounded like yesterday he had just about enough with the minor league at-bats," said manager Don Mattingly. "He had to get some energy and play out in front of people."

Though Crawford has also made progress throwing, it seems that won't return until the regular season. But as long as Crawford is ready with the bat, that will determine when he's ready.

"I don't think he's going to be 100% (throwing). When I asked Stan (Conte, director of medical services) when is he ready to really throw and he said, 'May.' So it's going to be a work in progress," Mattingly said. "But we're building to a point where we're comfortable with him being out there. We're feeling good about everything about Carl right now."

It is unknown what Crawford will do after his three scheduled games as the DH, but a return to playing the outfield could come fairly soon.

"I think there was a threshold that he needed to get to before Stan was comfortable with him being in the outfield," Mattingly said. "Once we get to that threshold and not have any setbacks, we feel like that's the time we'll see him in the outfield."

Notes

Games info

Time: 1 p.m. PT (both)

TV: KCAL (vs. Brewers) | Fox Sports Arizona (at D-Backs)

Radio: KLAC (vs. Brewers) | MLB.com (at D-Backs)

Gameday links: vs. Brewers | at D-Backs

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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