Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman addressed the future of Enrique Hernandez, the spunky fan-favorite utility man, who is a free agent.
Hernandez recently underwent surgery on his left elbow. He had played through an injury to the same elbow last season, despite missing some time due to it on the injured list.
He is set to miss the start of the 2026 season as he recovers, potentially leading to his signing happening later on in the offseason.
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During MLB winter meetings, Friedman spoke about the possibility of retaining Hernandez for another year amid his availability on the market.
“We’ll never shut the door on Kiké. The value he provides on the field with his versatility, the value he provides in the clubhouse. He’s got to do what’s best, but we’ll see how that plays out,” Friedman told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain.
Hernandez was set to play for his native Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, though he will now watch on the sidelines due to his injury.
It is quite amazing how well he played despite such a major injury. He once again delivered October magic, making plays in the outfield and delivering clutch hits, though his performance came at a cost, as he revealed in an interview after capturing his third World Series title.
“They went in thinking it was going to be an extensor release, and when they went in, they realized I had torn that thing completely off the bone,” Hernandez told Ottavino in late Novemeber.
“So it turned out to be an extensor repair. I’ll be out for, like, a month or two next year.”
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Hernandez played in all 17 of the Dodgers’ playoff games, slashing .250/.290/.359 with one home run and seven RBI.
He offers plenty of value in the locker room as a veteran presence, making the season a bit lighter amid a 162-game stretch. As long as he can continue to deliver in the postseason, he should have a spot on the Dodgers’ roster.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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