Kiké Hernández announced he will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2026 season via his Instagram on Thursday.
“What else did we expect? 3 in a row has nice ring to it. #WeBack,” the fan favorite wrote.
Hernandez will play his 10th season with the Dodgers in 2026, and has played a pivotal role in all three of their World Series victories this decade.
When Did Kiké Hernández Debut for the Dodgers?
Hernández first arrived in Los Angeles via trade in the 2015 season, coming over from the Miami Marlins in a big trade which also saw them land Andrew Heaney, Chris Hatcher and Austin Barnes.
The utility man revealed he wanted to be traded again once he arrived with the Dodgers, but stuck it out after the front office personally spoke to him.
“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,” Hernández said. “(President of baseball operations) Andrew Friedman got on the phone with me and said their plans were real with me. They were looking for players like me as far as playing different positions. And I was saying to myself, ‘Alright, sure. I’ll believe it when I see it.’
“A decade later, here we are.”
Hernández played for the Dodgers from 2015-2020, and entered free agency following their first World Series win in 32 years. He signed with the Boston Red Sox that offseason, but found his way back to L.A. in 2023, when Boston sent him back via trade.
He has played for the Dodgers in every season since, adding two more World Series to his repertoire and further endearing himself to the city of Los Angeles.
In his nine seasons with the Dodgers, Hernandez has hit 95 home runs and logged 320 RBIs in 920 games, slashing .236/.302/.412 for a .714 OPS. He has been even more effective in the postseason, having hit 11 home runs with 33 RBIs through 92 playoff appearances.
What Does the Kiké Hernández Signing Mean for the Dodgers?
By re-signing Hernández, the Dodgers have retained a key utility player who has played every single position except catcher for the team, adding valuable depth as they search for a third consecutive World Series championship.
The star will miss the first month or so of the season due to offseason surgery on his elbow, but will definitely feature for L.A. before the end of the year.
What is your favorite Kiké Hernández moment?
One Response
I guess Kim will be traded. SMH