A.J. Ellis activated from disabled list, Ramon Hernandez DFA'd

The Dodgers on Friday activated catcher A.J. Ellis from the disabled list, before the start of a three-game weekend series against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. To make room in the roster, the Dodgers designated Ramon Hernandez for assignment.

Ellis was placed on the disabled list on June 2 with a strained left oblique, an injury that prevented him from swinging a bat without pain. The move was retroactive to May 30, as Ellis imissed 14 games, during which time the Dodgers went 6-8.

He played in a pair of minor league rehab games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday and Wednesday, and went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts as the designated hitter in both games.

At the time he was placed on the disabled list Ellis was tied for eighth in MLB with 41 starts at catcher and was ninth with 364 innings behind the plate. In 2012 he finished fourth in the majors in both categories.

Ellis on the season is hitting .262/.364/.369 with seven doubles and two home runs in 42 games. This season Ellis has thrown out 15-of-28 (53.6%) of would-be base stealers, a marked improvement over his career rate of 30.9% (50-of-162) coming into this season.

In the absence of Ellis, Federowicz started 10 games behind the plate and Hernandez started four games at catcher and once as designated hitter.

Federowicz on the season is hitting .211/.237/.368 with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in 59 plate appearances. He has thrown out 3-of-9 (33.3%) of baserunners attempting to steal.

Hernandez on the season is hitting .208/.291/.438 with two doubles, three home runs and six RBI in 55 plate appearances. He has thrown out 2-of-6 (33.3%) of baserunners attempting to steal.

The Dodgers have 39 players on their 40-man roster.