During this dynastic run for the Los Angeles Dodgers, utility player Kiké Hernández has been an overwhelming fan favorite.
From making clutch plays to funny moments, Hernández has been front and center, though his role with the team goes much deeper than that, a former Dodger recently said.
Appearing on the “All the Smoke Baseball” podcast with Matt Barnes, Chase Utley explained the true value Hernández brings.
Kiké Hernández adds value to Dodgers on and off the field
Utley explained that Hernández is “a good dude,” but that’s only part of what he brings to the team.
“They bring him around because of his intangibles,” Utley said.
Those “intangibles” involve Hernández’s famous sense of humor and personality.
“He’s such a character, a ton of energy, a great guy for any clubhouse,” Utley said. “The fact that he’s a super talented player who can play any position, he’s even more valuable that way. So yeah, good dude, great dude, someone I’ll forever be friends with.”
Where has Kiké Hernández been for the Dodgers?
Hernández missed the bulk of the start of the season as he recovered from offseason elbow surgery.
That procedure rectified an injury that Hernández had been playing through, something Dr. Neal ElAttrache said was “the worst injury I’ve ever seen of this kind.”
Upon his return to action in May, Hernández was electric, hitting 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and two RBIs in his first two games back.
Unfortunately, those two games were to be his last for a while.
He strained his oblique, forcing a very quick return to the injured list.
Hernández explained that he actually hurt his oblique during batting practice before his official return to action, but he played through it until he couldn’t anymore.
Such injuries range in recovery time from two or three weeks to as many as eight.
Teammate Mookie Betts suffered an oblique strain early in the season but was able to return to action in about five weeks.
