LOS ANGELES — With the Los Angeles Dodgers on the brink and their season at risk of yet another early postseason exit, Kiké Hernández spoke up. Once a promising role player known for his lively personality, Hernández had a significant role in shaping the Dodgers into a powerhouse during the late 2010s. After attempting to carve out a spot as an everyday player elsewhere, he returned to the Dodgers last July. However, free agency was harsh to him, leading to his signing with Los Angeles only weeks into spring training for a modest $4 million contract amidst a billion-dollar offseason.
For months, Hernández struggled to find his footing, yet the transformation during October is remarkable. Having secured two pennants for the franchise with clutch performances in the past, Hernández was brought back with high hopes for this version of himself.
Throughout the first three games of the National League Division Series, Hernández didn’t start once and was absent in Game 3 when the Dodgers fell into a 2-1 deficit against the San Diego Padres, endangering another promising season.
Kiké Hernández pushed back on the scouting report and looked for a fastball from Yu Darvish, which proved wise. (Harry How / Getty Images)
Reacting to the pressure, Hernández gathered a mix of MVPs, All-Stars, and top prospects, urging them to step up. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recalled Hernández saying, “This is our one opportunity.”
The key takeaway, as Mookie Betts put it, was to “keep fighting.” The Padres had pushed the Dodgers to their limit, testing their resolve during a season plagued by injuries. Hernández’s message to the team boiled down to: F— ’em all.
Three nights later, a shirtless Hernández was celebrating, drenched in Korbel and Budweiser in a raucous celebration he helped orchestrate. He ensured a lead that proved insurmountable for their opponents, culminating in a 2-0 victory in Game 5, further solidifying his legacy as one of the franchise’s greatest postseason performers. Having completed a comeback from a 2-1 deficit, the Dodgers prepared for a best-of-seven matchup against the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series.
Following consecutive October disappointments, the Dodgers faced another challenge that could define this talented roster’s legacy. They had invested $1.4 billion yet found themselves falling short of previous seasons’ success, and a 2-1 deficit felt all too familiar.
But they survived.
“This team,” Hernández remarked in a television interview, “doesn’t give a f—.”
“He may be the team captain of that team,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.
Now, a team embodying Hernández’s tenacity stands just eight wins away from a championship.
Looking back on his journey, Hernández recalled a pivotal moment seven years ago, vividly visualizing success before a crucial game. The heartbreak from previous playoff failures lingered, yet this time, he shifted his focus toward positive outcomes. With the 2017 Dodgers so close to clinching a World Series berth, he resolved to imagine triumph, and that night he hit three home runs.
“I haven’t looked back since then,” Hernández noted, emphasizing the importance of visualization. He carried this mindset into Game 4, marking his first start of the series with two hits. Before the decisive Game 5, he visualized once again, affirming, “They brought you here for a reason.”
As the Dodgers’ hitting coaches prepared their strategy against Yu Darvish, Hernández confidently asserted his approach. Despite concerns regarding Darvish’s diverse pitching arsenal, he sought to capitalize on fastballs, insisting that waiting for a mistake was crucial.
He soon got his wish when Darvish threw him a first-pitch fastball in his first at-bat, which Hernández sent out of the park for his 14th postseason home run, igniting Dodger Stadium.
“He’s not afraid of the moment,” hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc remarked. “He’s here. He prepares. He’s got confidence through his preparation and he trusts it.”
“Kiké hitting a homer and making big plays is probably the least surprising thing of the night,” Gavin Lux added.
“It’s special,” teammate Anthony Banda said. “He’s built for October.”
“Some guys are built for the moment,” Max Muncy noted. “I don’t know what it is, but he’s got it.”
Hernández’s turnaround this season began with a recommendation from Martín Maldonado, a teammate on Team Puerto Rico. After discovering he had astigmatism during a routine eye exam, Hernández began wearing glasses, which dramatically improved his vision. Officially diagnosed, he realized he’d previously struggled to discern angles of pitch rotations.
“It was such a little thing that you don’t notice in your everyday life,” Hernández shared. “It was hard to tell.”
Kiké Hernández: “We didn’t come here to win the NL West. We came here to win the World Series.”
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) October 11, 2024
These adjustments offered him fresh perspective during what seemed a frustrating season. He batted only .191 before the All-Star break, but improved significantly, hitting .274 overall after, showcasing stellar performance with an .821 OPS in September that brought him back into the Dodgers’ plans.
“That’s why you sort of get through the regular season with Kiké,” Roberts explained. “And then when you get through that, you know you’re going to get the best player.”
Echoing through the clubhouse during a boisterous celebration, Hernández’s teammates rallied around him. As chants of his name filled the air, they basked in the victory atmosphere, symbolized by Kendrick Lamar’s motivational diss track playing on repeat. The failures of previous Octobers cast long shadows over the current squad, especially against the formidable Padres.
Freddie Freeman battled through a severely sprained ankle, while Miguel Rojas played through considerable injury. Their challenging season had fortified their resolve.
“We have a lot of ‘F U’ in us,” Hernández passionately expressed. “We have a bunch of grown men that want to win at all costs, no matter how it looks.”
Despite the pressure of facing elimination, the mood was light before Game 4. Teammates cracked jokes as they engaged in rounds of mini-golf, buoyed by the belief they would win.
“We were going to win the game, no doubt about it,” Muncy said, a sentiment that only grew as they executed a dominant performance, wrapping the series with consecutive scoreless innings.
As teammates rejoiced post-game, Muncy highlighted their unwavering confidence, stating, “We know who we are. We’re the f—ing best team in baseball and we’re out there to prove it.”
(Photo of Kiké Hernández: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)