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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Employees Author
After Freddie Freeman pulled a Kirk Gibson and earlier than Yoshinobu Yamamoto accomplished a career-defining begin, Teoscar Hernández made his personal mark on this World Collection, belting a two-run homer in Sport 2 that offered the profitable runs within the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees. It was a second which may go largely unnoticed within the story of this sequence, trampled in Sport 2 by Shohei Ohtani‘s damage scare — however such anonymity is perhaps becoming.
Hernández has spent all 12 months as an overlooked-yet-crucial determine on a star-laden Dodgers workforce that’s now two wins away from a title.
Amid a $1 billion splurge that was headlined by Ohtani, Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, Hernández accepted a one-year, $23.5 million contract largely as a result of his market hardly materialized, an addition that appeared nearly pointless. However the Dodgers’ lineup wouldn’t be as deep with out his energy. Their clubhouse wouldn’t be as united with out his presence.
Hernández sipped on a cup of espresso close to his residence within the L.A. neighborhood of Studio Metropolis final week and mirrored on a 12 months that started with hope and can finish, championship or not, “better than anything I could have imagined.” Hernández put collectively considered one of his greatest offensive seasons — with a .272/.339/.501 slash line, 33 homers and 99 RBIs in 154 video games — received the Residence Run Derby, and have become the joyous, sunflower-seed-throwing, in-game-microphone-wearing face of considered one of baseball’s most well-known groups.
“Shohei is obviously going to be MVP of the entire league,” Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas mentioned. “But to me, outside of him, Teoscar is our MVP.”
Ohtani and Yamamoto have been the clear headliners of final winter’s free agent class, primed for nine-figure offers that might set new precedents. Following them within the pecking order was a vexing group of family names who demanded large contracts however offered a variety of issues, a listing consisting of Jordan Montgomery, Josh Hader, Matt Chapman and Cody Bellinger.
Hernández resided within the tier slightly below them — not fairly outstanding sufficient to command huge cash however, maybe, a secure guess amid the uncertainty. After Bellinger and Jung Hoo Lee, he was the perfect outfielder obtainable. After Ohtani, he may need been the perfect energy hitter. A 3- to four-year deal appeared cheap, if not going.
“I thought it was going to be different,” Hernández mentioned, turning to his agent, Rafa Nieves of Republik Sports activities, seated subsequent to him. “We thought it was going to be different.”
Hernández, who turned 32 this month, entered free company as a former All-Star with two Silver Slugger Awards and 6 seasons producing an OPS 19 proportion factors above league common. From 2018 to 2023, he slashed .262/.317/.484 with 147 residence runs and 442 RBIs. However he was coming off a down 12 months in Seattle, wherein he performed a career-high 160 video games however posted his lowest full-season OPS.
That, on prime of the same old issues about his defensive worth and strikeout price, stymied Hernández’s market. And so Hernandez acquired solely two-year affords, with the Boston Pink Sox and the Los Angeles Angels rising as the highest suitors. A 3rd assured 12 months from both workforce might have finalized a deal.
That neither offered it made the Dodgers more and more extra tempting.
Dodgers basic supervisor Brandon Gomes reached out to Nieves from the outset of free company and was the primary individual he met with on the GM conferences in early November. The Dodgers would chase Ohtani and wanted to handle their rotation. After that, they wished one other bat. Even after they signed veteran nook outfielder Jason Heyward to a one-year, $9 million contract in late November, Hernández was their desire.
After a whirlwind few weeks that noticed them signal Ohtani, Glasnow and Yamamoto, the Dodgers circled again with Nieves and finally landed on a one-year deal, however with a bigger common annual worth than Hernández’s different affords. Moderately than long-term safety, Hernández would reenter the market in a 12 months. He’d guess on a Dodgers franchise that regularly performs into October and holds a fame for making gamers higher.
Largely, although, he’d guess on himself.
“It hasn’t been easy in my career,” Hernández mentioned. “Nothing has been. But I’m the type of guy that punches back.”
Hernández grew up within the Dominican city of Maimón, a utility infielder who didn’t command a lot consideration as a youngster. Scouts decided he wasn’t quick sufficient and didn’t possess sufficient energy. He was considered because the worst factor a projectable teenager could be: a tweener. From ages 15 to 18, he received nothing however empty guarantees and tepid curiosity.
“If I ask you how many tryouts I did to try to get signed, what do you think it is?” Hernández requested. “Throw out a number.”
10?
15?
30?
“I did over a hundred tryouts,” Hernández mentioned.
In 2011, after starring on the Houston Astros‘ Dominican complicated for the higher a part of a month, Hernández was fed up. He went residence and determined to stop. He spent two weeks at his home with out training earlier than the Astros labored him out once more and at last prolonged a proposal — for $15,000. Hernández accepted.
“From that day I’ve been fighting and fighting and fighting,” Hernández mentioned. “And it got harder and harder and harder every year.”
Six years later, the Astros traded Hernández to the Toronto Blue Jays halfway by means of the 2017 season. Two years after that, in his age-26 season, Hernández cracked his first Opening Day roster, solely to battle mightily and get despatched down six weeks later. His breakthrough 2020 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. His 2021 season was hampered by his personal case of COVID.
However by 2022, regardless of an indirect pressure that price him three weeks, Hernández had established himself as a worthwhile energy hitter who might act as a catalyst in the course of a lineup — sufficient in order that the Seattle Mariners, starved for offense, traded for him in November.
Hernández’s remaining 12 months earlier than free company would see him anchoring a lineup alongside Julio Rodríguez, whereas enjoying for a Mariners workforce primed to make a deep run. However Hernández slashed simply .238/.288/.406 by means of the top of July. He received scorching in August however nonetheless completed with a .741 OPS, his lowest since turning into an everyday six years earlier. The Mariners missed the playoffs by one sport.
“It was a really good, really talented team,” Hernández mentioned. “But we were missing something. And I think it was playing as one group, not individuals.”
The primary participant to succeed in out to Hernández when he signed with the Dodgers was Ohtani, through a direct message on Instagram.
“Finally,” it learn, “we’re gonna play together.”
As an Angel, Ohtani plunked Hernández on the appropriate hand with a sinker on April 5, 2023, and apologized for it whereas on his manner out of the ballpark. It sparked a brief dialog and a stunning friendship.
Hernández has a fame for being upbeat, congenial, easygoing. His match on the Dodgers was instantaneous. Alongside the best way, Hernández grew from the group that surrounded him. It was his first time round established stars and a profitable tradition. He realized the way to navigate the pains of a season, drawing inspiration extra just lately by how Freeman has navigated by means of accidents in October. He realized the way to preserve going, it doesn’t matter what offered itself.
“He said something in spring training that kind of caught my attention,” Rojas mentioned. “In Toronto, he was a player trying to make a name for himself but at the same time he needed to be the leader of the group. Here, he doesn’t have to do that. He came into our clubhouse knowing he doesn’t have to be the piece that keeps everybody together and all that. He can focus on what he does on the field and what he does best, which is hit.”
Hernández’s manufacturing remained regular all through the 2024 season, devoid of the highs and lows which have at occasions plagued him. In September, he was at his greatest, slashing .329/.407/.605 because the Dodgers made the ultimate push to seize an eleventh division title in 12 years. Even after Hernández went hitless in 18 at-bats over the primary 5 video games of the Nationwide League Championship Collection, his method didn’t waver. He drew seven walks throughout that stretch, a circumstance that stunned even him. Outcomes weren’t going his manner, however he didn’t chase. He didn’t grow to be impatient.
In Sport 6, on the evening the Dodgers clinched their first pennant in 4 years, Hernández served as an early catalyst, lining two hits whereas the Dodgers scored six runs within the first three innings.
To him, it was a progress second.
“I know that I’m going to fail, I know that I’m going to make errors, but this year I have that confidence,” Hernández mentioned. “I know at some point I’m going to be back, hitting the ball hard, hitting homers, getting on base, making plays.”
When Yankee Stadium hosted a high-profile Dodgers-Yankees matchup over the summer season, Hernández starred. He hit the game-winning two-run double within the eleventh inning on June 7, homered twice in a rout on June 8, contributed two hits and one other residence run in the one loss on June 9. Going again now — with the very best stakes, in entrance of a hostile crowd and in opposition to a determined workforce — has introduced out a specific degree of pleasure with him.
“It’s going to be crazy,” Hernández mentioned of a World Collection that may shift to the Bronx for Video games 3, 4 and, if the Dodgers don’t sweep, 5. “But I like that. I like challenges. I like when things get really hard. And I think that’s when you see the best out of me, when you’re facing a really good pitcher, a really good team. There’s just something about those moments that I love.”
The 2024 season started with a threat. It should finish with progress and validation. With a reaffirming of his perception that issues occur for a purpose. With a clearer imaginative and prescient for what he’ll search for in free company — long-term safety and a possibility to win — and the thought that he shouldn’t need to settle.
Solely a handful of groups wished Hernández over the offseason. Now the most effective doesn’t know the place it will be with out him.
“What are they going to say now?” Hernández mentioned. “I want to see what excuses they’re going to say now.”
