Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernández had surgery on Friday to repair a torn muscle in his elbow. The veteran announced the procedure in an Instagram post. Hernández said he suffered the injury in May and played through it the rest of the season, which led to the elbow tendon detaching from the bone.
The 34-year-old Hernández is currently a free agent. He signed a one-year, $6.5MM deal to return to LA this past offseason. Hernández is a three-time World Series champion (2020, 2024, 2025). He’s spent the majority of his 12-year career with the Dodgers, while also making brief stops in Houston, Miami, and Boston. It’s unclear how long Hernández will need to recover, but he noted that post-surgery rehab will prohibit him from playing with Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. The injury is to his non-throwing arm, which could improve his recovery timetable.
Hernández scuffled to a .203/.255/.366 slash line this past season. The elbow issue could’ve led to the down year, as he hit just .169 with an elevated 29.5% strikeout rate in 129 regular-season plate appearances after May. He missed most of July and August while tending to the injury. Despite the struggles, Hernández started every postseason game for the Dodgers. He piled up 24 strikeouts in 17 games, but hit a respectable .250 and popped a homer in Game 5 of the World Series.
A well-regarded lefty masher, Hernández once again had sizable splits this year. His batting average was almost identical against righties and lefties, but his OPS was more than 100 points higher when facing left-handed pitching. Hernández slugged .415 with six home runs in 108 plate appearances against lefties in the regular season. His slugging percentage fell to .333 against righties. He hit four homers in 148 plate appearances against same-handed pitching.
Hernández is best known for his defensive versatility, and the 2025 campaign was no different. He made at least nine starts at first base, second base, and third base, plus seven starts in the outfield. He even chipped in 5 1/3 innings on the mound. Hernández mostly played left field in the playoffs, while also appearing at center field and third base.
While Hernández isn’t under contract right now, it’s hard to imagine him in anything other than a Dodgers uniform. He’s played 920 games with the team since coming over from Miami in a trade headlined by Dee Strange-Gordon. Hernández signed with Boston after winning the 2020 title with LA, spending two and a half seasons with the Red Sox. He was traded back to the Dodgers midway through the 2023 season. Hernández has been a valuable contributor for the back-to-back champs, both on the field and in the clubhouse.
With Max Muncy back on a club option, LA will return the majority of the championship squad, outside of Game 7 hero Miguel Rojas (also a free agent). Even with stars around the diamond, the depth chart still has soft spots at second base and corner outfield. Hernández could be brought back for relatively cheap to fill his typical utility role.
Photo courtesy of Joe Lumaya, Imagn Images
Wow, remarkable that he did as well as he did in the playoffs.
That said, I think the Dodgers have to resist the urge to bring back both Rojas and Kike’. Even champions need to continually evolve and improve.
“Even champions..evolve and improve”..A truer statement has never been made on these MLBTR comments pages.
Agree. Get younger.
He’s for September and October. I see him re-up ping in LA after spring training starts when the 60 day IL reopens (I believe that’s when) so the Dodgers can basically stash him until he’s needed.
Concur with your assessment on moving on; especially with Hernandez.
I am curious why you believe Kike “did well” in the playoffs – he was totally a mediocre placeholder – his utility was his glove which was adequate & ok as should be expected from someone in the big leagues. ..Yes?
I think he means he did well relative to the injury.
“Hernández is best known for his defensive versatility”
I think he’s been known for his personality tbh
No, he’s best known for annually burying Error in Judgement (aka Mr. Phony MVP) in the postseason. Not a poser, he comes to play.
I’m a lifelong Dodger fan and I love Kiké’s game. But that’s an over the top slam on Judge, a great player in his own right, the big dropped ball in game 5 2024 notwithstanding.
That Dodger dance can be painful in more ways then one..
Oh man…that fairy twerk is overt, shameful & so non pro.
Kike and Rojas will be back when roster spots are available, they will test the FA, knowing in february they have it signed. Unless someone overpaid.
pepenaa34, fully agree.
Loud mouthed scrub that uses his teams accomplishments to try and step into any kind of spotlight possible. Not impressed with a guy that makes a point to curse on live TV to think he’s cool. That’s little kid behavior
Show me on the doll where he hurt you
Tbh it was classless behavior.
a troll doll no doubt
It isn’t too hard to imagine Hernandez wearing something other than a Dodgers uniform since he’s worn three others during his career.
That picture. It deserves to go viral with an insert.
i definitely feel the Dodgers need a steadying influence like Miguel Rojas. He wants to play one more year and he is the versatile player the Dodgers prize. I would make signing him a bit of a priority.
I also hope the Dodgers give Rojas the opportunity to finish out his career with the team. But I am puzzled by what you mean by the need for a “steadying influence.” This team has more than its share of veterans. Arguably, too many.
IMHO, I think re-signing Rojas as a player/coach, ala Manny Mota, would be beneficial, especially for Mookie. Brendan Donovan replaces Kike’ in a deal with the Cardinals.
i get the “get younger” crowd but just think in this case signing both Kike and Miggy has a bigger upside. at least for the coming year. Miggy retires, Kike does Kike stuff and then likely a strike. its not like either of them are like keeping total non contributors around. Rojas is completely dialed in w all that experience he shares and exhibits. the defensive gems when it counted most were baseball poetry not every player can write. after this year and a 3 peat try move on but for now i’d like both back.
I have no problem bringing those two back for another season, but it also has to be said that the under-30s on this roster could caucus in a closet. Okay, a big closet. But still, this group is getting old.
Kike is getting older, and even if it’s not his throwing arm, Dodgers need to get younger. The youngest guys are Pages and Will Smith? Regular lineup guys I should specify.