Teoscar Hernández on Why He Joined the Dodgers: ‘I’m Hungry for Winning’
The Dodgers’ incredible offseason has continued into the new year. Outfielder Teoscar Hernández joined the Dodgers on a one-year, $23.5 million contract which has $8.5 million deferred.
The front office had been searching for a right-handed outfielder all offseason, and Hernández is now expected to be the everyday left-fielder. He will bring electric energy to the clubhouse, and his bat will be a welcome sight in the middle of the order.
During his introductory press conference, Hernández explained why he joined the Dodgers. He simply said it was because he wanted to win.
“I’m hungry for winning, and I don’t think there’s a better place to be than the Dodgers right now.”
Last season with the Seattle Mariners, Hernández had a down year by his standards. He hit .258 with 26 home runs and 93 runs batted in.
“When you see what this team has done over the past 11 years, it makes it an easy decision to want to join them.”
Hernàndez was an All-Star in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays but struggled to find consistency with the Mariners. He said that he never felt comfortable at the plate in Seattle, leading to very intriguing home/road splits for him.
Playing in Dodger Stadium alongside some of the better hitters in the game today should help his statistics. Hernàndez doesn’t have the best patience at the plate, but his ability to hit the home run made him a fun get for Los Angeles.
He said that he turned down other offers to come to the Dodgers, showing their ability to draw players in. The hope is that he has a great season, and helps lead L.A. to a World Series title before re-entering the market again next offseason.
“I had more choices, but I think this was best for me and my family. I’d rather take one year with the Dodgers and go to a team that is gonna make me better and hopefully everything goes well and we can win everything this year and see what happens next year.”
Photo Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
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