Kiké Hernández Saved the Dodgers Season With Inspired Message to Clubhouse
With the Los Angeles Dodgers on the brink of elimination, it was Kiké Hernández who spoke up.
Hernández addressed an elite group of players, including MVPs, All-Stars, and top prospects, delivering a strong message after Game 3.
“This is our one opportunity,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recalled Hernández saying. “He was just basically putting everybody on blast and seeing what they’re made of.”
The key, Mookie Betts said, “was to just keep fighting.”
The message simply said: “F— ’em all.”
Hernández has twice delivered pennant-clinching moments for the franchise with a single swing. When the Dodgers decided to bring him back, they were hoping to see that same clutch version of Hernández once more.
The Dodgers got the October version of Hernández again on Friday when he clubbed a solo home run to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead and it proved to be the game-winning run as the Dodgers shut out the Padres 2-0.
Hernández learned how to handle the pressure of the postseason in 2017 against the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers were within a game of winning the National League pennant and he decided to let go of all the negativity weighing him down.
He visualized positive outcomes and delivered three home runs.
“I haven’t looked back since then,” Hernández said.
The routine became a habit. Before Game 4 on Wednesday, he used visualization techniques, which helped him secure his first start of the series and rack up two hits. On Thursday night, with a decisive Game 5 looming, he relied on the same mental preparation once again.
“I kept telling myself, they brought you here for a reason,” Hernández said. “They brought you here to play in October. I wanted to come back to make a run with this team because I really want to have a parade.”
Hernández has a knack for hitting fastballs. That’s what he was looking for on Friday even though some disagreed with him.
He got a first-pitch fastball and sent it into the left-field pavilion.
“He’s not afraid of the moment,” hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc said. “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 said.
“It’s special,” Anthony Banda said. “He’s built for October.”
“Some guys are built for the moment,” Max Muncy said. “I don’t know what it is, but he’s got it.”
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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