Super-utility player Kiké Hernández, who has won two World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is a free agent again, so what uniform will he be wearing? The flamboyant fan favorite has spent most of his career in Los Angeles, with an interlude with the Boston Red Sox in between two tenures donning the Dodger Blue. Hernández is known for his versatility, as he has played eight positions on the diamond. Thus far, he hasn’t put on the “tools of ignorance,” but considering how he plays every other position on the field with excellence and verve, he would likely adapt to playing catcher if the need arose.
Rather Pedestrian Regular Season
The right-handed hitter signed a one-year deal last offseason and seemed to struggle for the majority of the first half of 2024. Hernández was hitting below the Mendoza line at a .191 batting average. This led even the most loyal fans to wonder if he was worth the roster spot.
Turning Point
However, Hernández discovered he had astigmatism in his right eye. After his sight was corrected in June, the super-utility man hit .274 the rest of the year. Ironically, his first breakout game was against his former team, the Boston Red Sox. He was inserted in the middle of the game and promptly drove in the tying runs in the eighth and ninth innings, while scoring the winning run in the eleventh.
Prodigious Postseason
As soon as the calendar hits October, Hernández ups his game. He thrives when the lights are the brightest. He has an OPS in the postseason of .980, one of the highest for a right-handed hitter in the history of baseball. The “Swiss Army Knife of baseball” hits over .400 and is tied with Babe Ruth with 15 home runs.
Hernandez started the fifth-inning rally in Game Five of the World Series with a line-drive single. The Dodgers never looked back.
Potential Landing Spots for Kiké Hernández
Hernández has already stipulated that he wants to play for a contender in October. “I need October baseball. It’s part of who I am.” he said in a recent interview. Here are two options to consider as possible landing spots for Hernández.
New York Yankees
Amid the flurry of free-agent signings and departures, the Yankees could be a fit. Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto won’t be back. This probably means that Jazz Chisholm Jr. will move to second base. Cody Bellinger was acquired to primarily play center field, but New York has to find a first and a third baseman. With these positions still in flux, would the Yankees consider employing Hernández, who could fill a gap anywhere on the diamond? It’s probably unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Kiké Hernández says his main priority is re-signing with the Dodgers and helping them win back-to-back World Series titles.
“The Dodgers are very well-positioned to make another run.”
Via The Shoppic.twitter.com/ic4SglyheR
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 17, 2024
It is no secret where Kiké wants to be. He said signing with Los Angeles is “my main priority.” It’s safe to say, based on familiarity and Hernández’s track record in October, the Dodgers are just as interested. He provides balance and pop off the bench. Los Angeles’s need for Hernandez will increase exponentially if Teoscar Hernández doesn’t return. However, because of the roster crunch, don’t expect a deal until closer to spring training.
It would be a bigger surprise if Hernández doesn’t stay in LA. Based on his career so far, he was made for Hollywood.
Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
