{"id":122753,"date":"2026-05-26T23:19:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:19:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=122753"},"modified":"2026-05-26T23:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:19:51","slug":"kike-hernandez-dodgers-return-memorial-day-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/05\/26\/kike-hernandez-dodgers-return-memorial-day-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez Sparks Dodgers in Return on Memorial Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Memorial Day saw Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a> return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup in true Kik\u00e9 fashion\u2014loud, emotional, and instantly impactful. <\/span>He helped set the tone early, putting the Dodgers on the board with a 1-0 lead thanks to a sharp double down the third-base line. The ball was just out of the reach of Kyle Karros<\/a>, the son of the evening\u2019s Dodgers\u2019 TV broadcast announcer, Eric Karros<\/a>. He instantly ignited the crowd and brought that vintage postseason-like energy to the Dodgers’ offense. With Hern\u00e1ndez and others returning, it appears the Dodgers are getting healthy again<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kik\u00e9 Hernandez Return from Injury and Surgery: A Difficult Road Back<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez\u2019s comeback has not been an easy one. <\/span>In pregame interviews, he opened up about dealing with one of the most severe elbow injuries of his career, describing the pain in striking terms and noting that it often felt \u201clike getting hit with a blowtorch\u201d every time he swung a bat. It was clear this spring that he wouldn’t be ready by Opening Day<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Neal ElAttrache told Hern\u00e1ndez that his left elbow injury was the worst of its kind he had ever seen and expressed confusion over how Hern\u00e1ndez managed to play through it.\u00a0 <\/span>It was a reminder that his presence on the field wasn\u2019t just about production\u2014it was about persistence.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Perfect Start<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez kept rolling after the first hit, adding a single later in the game to go a perfect 2-for-2 in his 2026 campaign. <\/span>For a player known as much for momentum-shifting moments as for consistency, it was exactly the kind of start that fits his reputation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kik\u00e9 back like he never left! pic.twitter.com\/x696VcRCEj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n