Kike Hernandez has become a fan favorite and a postseason star for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s played a big part in the team’s success over the last decade. But Hernandez recently revealed his Dodgers story almost didn’t happen.
Hernandez first broke into the Major Leagues in 2014. He came to Los Angeles after a trade from the Miami Marlins. At the time, he didn’t think he would stick with the Dodgers. In a recent interview with Dodgers insider Mark Langill, Hernandez said he had actually hoped to be traded again.
“I was hoping I’d be traded again because looking at the Dodger roster at the time, I thought I was going to make a career out of Triple-A baseball,” he said. But Dodgers executive Andrew Friedman convinced him otherwise. Friedman explained that the team had real plans for Hernandez. They wanted versatile players like him who could play multiple positions. Hernandez said he was skeptical at first, but now, ten years later, he’s a key part of the team.
Hernandez has been important for the Dodgers’ success. Across nine seasons in two stints with the team, he has hit .236 with a .305 on-base percentage and a .403 slugging percentage. He has 95 home runs and 320 RBIs. In the postseason, he was part of the Dodgers’ 2020 and 2024 World Series-winning teams and holds a career postseason OPS of .882.
After beating the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card series, the Dodgers now face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. Hernandez is known for stepping up in the playoffs. He will be looking to create more memorable moments as the Dodgers chase another World Series run.