Kiké Hernandez Sends Message to Dodgers Fans Amid Free Agency
Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernández is a free agent this offseason, meaning there’s a chance the fan favorite may not return next season. However, whether Hernández returns to the Dodgers in 2025 or finds a new team, he is extremely grateful for the Los Angeles fanbase for embracing him throughout his two stints with the organization.
“From the moment I got to L.A., it was a humbling experience for me to have a fanbase that embraces me and loves me the way that they do,” he said via The Shop. “The support. I’m a guy that I’m probably a better player than what the back of my card says numbers-wise. I bring more to the table than my stats, and the way that they love me, you’d think that I am the best player on the field each and every day I step on a baseball field.”
Although Hernández isn’t an everyday starter, the utilityman has endeared fans with his energy in the clubhouse and electric postseason performances.
“There’s nothing more that I appreciate than everything they throw my way,” Hernández said. “From the bottom of my heart, I’ve always said I never know how to repay this fanbase for the way that they love me, but this year, signing late, coming into spring training late and joining a team that has a lot of expectations, I figured the best way to repay this fanbase was when I get my chance in October, I do my thing and help this team win. I feel like I did just that.”
Hernández recorded relatively average numbers in the regular season, but flipped a switch once October rolled around. Throughout his career, Hernández has recorded a batting average of .278 with 64 hits, 15 home runs, 35 RBIs and 37 runs scored in the postseason.
To put his numbers into perspective, Hernández now has more postseason home runs than Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera, and Chipper Jones after he hit a solo homer in Game 5 of the National League Division Series.
Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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It sure would be nice to have a player like Kiki Hernandez back this coming season. You need a player like him with his hustle and upbeat attitude during the season. And his playoff contributions are great. Please bring him back. If the Dodgers need a roster spot, then how about DFAing Taylor. He’s been a total joke these past three years.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Amen!! Definitely should cut Taylor and re-sign Kike. Pages and Outman still have options. Dodgers could re-sign Kike to platoon with Conforto in RF. Or platoon with Lux at 2B.
Ohtan-DH
Smith-C
Freeman-1B
Lux-2B
Mookie-SS
Teo-LF
Edman-CF
Conforto-RF
Bench of Barnes, Kike, Rojas, and Taylor.
You forgot Muncy-3b…OR we trade Lux, sign gold glove Arenado 3b, platoon Muncy/Kike 2b.
Kike The Clutch
He’s like Robert “Big Shot Rob”. Horry of Baseball.
Cold as ice
DO NOT SIGN HERNANDEZ!!!
Dodgers should give Taylor every opportunity to compete while in Spring Training and, if he doesn’t, send him home. He is under contract for one more year and so he can’t be traded without his permission, so he can be paid to stay home and hope another team chimes in to absorb at least a fraction of his high salary. Agree that Kike needs to be kept. Not many players in the league have his grit and confidence to play above their capabilities in both offense and defense. Even as a ninth inning pitching option in blowout games he has shown himself to save a tired bullpen respectably.
Agree completely about Kike completely. I get it about Taylor. If a need for a roster spot was needed and his numbers continue to reflect the last couple of years, then you’d have to consider cutting him lose. I’m hoping he returns to form and sticks around a while. He’s done such a good job for us in the past, I’d probably be the one that kept him too long.
Why did we feel we needed comforto. Waste. Little more could have kept buehler. By signing hernandez finally I would rather have Kiki cause he can play so many positions. Plus we have some young guys we need to see how they are doing. Outman pages. Plus remember we signed shortstop outfielder Tommy Edmond and have Rojas to beat. U want another outfielder go for luis robert. Seems like a great deal and if healthy has shown how good he can be. Comforto was a waste.
Cut chris taylor loose. He has been an automatic out for 2 years now. He is a pitchers dream. Re sign like hernandez. Austin Barnes should also be cut loose.Tsylor and Barnes make opposing pitchers smile.They are the weakest links. Bring up a catcher from triple a.Give they’re number one prospect a chance. Taylor’s 108 batting average needs to go.
With all the money the Dodgwrs throw around you would think for a minue that they know the importance thos man plays for this team. He even said it himself. So the numbers on the back of the card arent that of a Rod Carew haha some heads are spinning now. But numbers dont bring an attitude to the field and clubhouse that winners are made of. Just his presence makes everyone a better player. Its tome some of these players stand up even if behind the scene and let managenr know to sign this man. It is the right move. Dont “F” thus up. Its not a money thing its THE right thing. Kiki thank you for being the man you are not just a player. Dodger Blue will always love you!!
Is disrespectful how they keep leaving him for last. The spark in their last two World series has been always Kiké. There’s no two ways about it.
Agree! Kike is a Dodger. Period. He doesn’t just play for the Dodgers. He is part of the soul of the Dodgers. BRING KIKE BACK!!!
Get out the check book and re-sign the most versatile player in the league. If anything, just his ability to step in at any position defensively is an incredible asset—the kind of player no one else has.
His production was down, but the kid works his ass off to fix his plate appearances. I don’t have the metrics to prove it, but in his “off” year, he started more rallies in the vaunted bottom-of-the-order rally club than anyone, even after the addition of Tommy Edmond.
Look, Kiké is what a lot of us fans consider Dodgers Baseball.
And…Kikè is one of us.
Sign him to show you’re in touch with humanity.
I have only written about the regular season so far.
A hypothetical question: What would you have paid a guy who was guaranteed to have the exact job Kiké’s playoff performance?
This and most postseasons Kiké has excelled. Whether hitting with power, putting the ball in play, sparkling on defense and especially running the bases, full of situational awareness, he was THE guy who was always there.
Keep Kiké Her?andez with us for 3 or 5 more! It’s about humanity. lol. It won’t hurt to take care of this tremendous guy!
Sign Kike + another arm or two and we’re all set for the upcoming season. As we’ve seen, Kike has the energy, attitude, and postseason numbers. Think “Big Game” James Worthy or “Playoff Rob” Robert Horry of the great Lakers championship teams of the past.
It’s a huge mistake to let him go dodgers need to reassess that move he brings so much more to the team then only baseball he clearly is intricate in the game keeping the vibe joyful and happy which helps keep everyone loose not to mention his playing the game
Conforto was a waste. Same kind of signing that Heyward was. Kike is who they should have put that money into. He’s more important than the front office gives him credit for. I’ve commented extensively on this site that Kike should be more of a priority if they want to win rings. Hopefully someone that matters feels the same way. With Kike, you can confidently win more rings. Without him, it’s a crapshoot. Just sign the guy for life, trade away Taylor or Conforto, and quit pussyfooting around it.
Keki isn’t a starter but with what time he does play he has proven himself over and over. Why do the Dodgers do this? They leave a good player hanging out there waiting for a word from someone in the office or a coach. They’ve lost good players like this. Bring back this very good player and fan favorite. He puts a charge into the Dodgers organization and the fans.
I thought Dodgers were printing their own money ??
Do not let Kike Hernandez go! He is a solid player and a definite fan favorite. When he played for the Red Sox, his loss was felt by many of us, if for no other reason Kike’s versatility. But Kike is more than a ” good player”, he brings a lot of great energy to the team and the Dodgers fan base, and what an amazing speaker, with and without expletives.
His mouth and antics is why the Dodgers haven’t signed him.
Kike should be resigned because he has played every position but catcher. That alone makes him valuable.
Kike is a valued player he can and has covered every position but catcher. That is a great thing because you have someone that can and will cover that position right away. He he can swing the bat and steal the bases. I was so happy when kike came back as other fans hopefully we won’t be disappointed again because they don’t see how valuable is to the team fans and the organization.
He he can swing the bat and steal the bases. I was so happy when kike came back as other fans hopefully we won’t be disappointed again because they don’t see how valuable he is to the team, fans and the organization.
Forget Kike, the guy who said his mouth and antics are a problem. Make a deal with the Cardinals trade Lux and a back end pitcher for Aranado. Move Muncy to 2nd base and sign free agent Helmsley and you have a team no one can compete with.
Dodgers, please don’t sign Kiké. My Team the Mets and the Dodgers will probably meet in the playoffs and we prefer not to confront him. Ok?
Impactful player whom I
have followed w/ Dodgers/Boston and admire. Given our current needs, wonder if the Yankees have ever considered him? Waaadup Cashman?
Orgullo Boricua!
Kike The Clutch
He’s like Robert “Big Shot Rob”. Horry of Baseball.
Cold as ice