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 supplied 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 harm scare — however such anonymity is likely to be becoming.
Hernández has spent all 12 months as an overlooked-yet-crucial determine on a star-laden Dodgers group 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 virtually pointless. However the Dodgers’ lineup would not be as deep with out his energy. Their clubhouse would not be as united with out his presence.
Hernández sipped on a cup of espresso close to his dwelling 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, “higher than something I might have imagined.” Hernández put collectively one in all 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 one in all baseball’s most well-known groups.
“Shohei is clearly going to be MVP of your entire league,” Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas stated. “However to me, outdoors 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 may set new precedents. Following them within the pecking order was a vexing group of family names who demanded huge contracts however offered a variety of considerations, 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 large cash however, maybe, a protected guess amid the uncertainty. After Bellinger and Jung Hoo Lee, he was the very best outfielder out there. After Ohtani, he might need been the very best energy hitter. A 3- to four-year deal appeared cheap, if not going.
“I believed it was going to be totally different,” Hernández stated, turning to his agent, Rafa Nieves of MVP Sports activities, seated subsequent to him. “We thought it was going to be totally 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 share factors above league common. From 2018 to 2023, he slashed .262/.317/.484 with 147 dwelling runs and 442 RBIs. However he was coming off a down 12 months in Seattle, by which he performed a career-high 160 video games however posted his lowest full-season OPS.
That, on high of the standard considerations about his defensive worth and strikeout fee, stymied Hernández’s market. And so Hernandez acquired solely two-year provides, with the Boston Pink Sox and the Los Angeles Angels rising as the highest suitors. A 3rd assured 12 months from both group might have finalized a deal.
That neither offered it made the Dodgers more and more extra tempting.
Dodgers normal supervisor Brandon Gomes reached out to Nieves from the outset of free company and was the primary particular person he met with on the GM conferences in early November. The Dodgers would chase Ohtani and wanted to deal with their rotation. After that, they needed 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 provides. Somewhat 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 simple in my profession,” Hernández stated. “Nothing has been. However I am the kind of man that punches again.”
Hernández grew up within the Dominican city of Maimón, a utility infielder who did not command a lot consideration as a teen. Scouts decided he wasn’t quick sufficient and did not possess sufficient energy. He was seen because the worst factor a projectable teenager might be: a tweener. From ages 15 to 18, he obtained nothing however empty guarantees and tepid curiosity.
“If I ask you what number of tryouts I did to attempt to get signed, what do you assume it’s?” Hernández requested. “Throw out a quantity.”
10?
15?
30?
“I did over 100 tryouts,” Hernández stated.
In 2011, after starring on the Houston Astros’ Dominican advanced for the higher a part of a month, Hernández was fed up. He went dwelling and determined to stop. He spent two weeks at his home with out working towards earlier than the Astros labored him out once more and eventually prolonged a suggestion — for $15,000. Hernández accepted.
“From that day I have been preventing and preventing and preventing,” Hernández stated. “And it obtained tougher and tougher and tougher yearly.”
Six years later, the Astros traded Hernández to the Toronto Blue Jays halfway by the 2017 season. Two years after that, in his age-26 season, Hernández cracked his first Opening Day roster, solely to wrestle 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 value him six weeks, Hernández had established himself as a helpful 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 ultimate 12 months earlier than free company would see him anchoring a lineup alongside Julio Rodríguez, whereas taking part in for a Mariners group primed to make a deep run. However Hernández slashed simply .248/.312/.475 by the tip of June. He obtained scorching over the ultimate three months however nonetheless completed with a .741 OPS, his lowest since changing into an everyday six years earlier. The Mariners missed the playoffs by one recreation.
“It was a extremely good, actually proficient group,” Hernández stated. “However we have been lacking one thing. And I feel it was taking part in as one group, not people.”
The primary participant to achieve out to Hernández when he signed with the Dodgers was Ohtani, by way of a direct message on Instagram.
“Lastly,” it learn, “we’re gonna play collectively.”
As an Angel, Ohtani plunked Hernández on the appropriate hand with a sinker on April 5, 2023, and apologized for it whereas on his means out of the ballpark. It sparked a brief dialog and a shocking friendship.
Hernández has a fame for being upbeat, congenial, easygoing. His match on the Dodgers was instantaneous. Alongside the way in which, Hernández grew from the group that surrounded him. It was his first time round established stars and a profitable tradition. He discovered navigate the pains of a season, drawing inspiration extra not too long ago by how Freeman has navigated by accidents in October. He discovered hold going, it doesn’t matter what offered itself.
“He stated one thing in spring coaching that sort of caught my consideration,” Rojas stated. “In Toronto, he was a participant attempting to make a reputation for himself however on the similar time he wanted to be the chief of the group. Right here, he does not have to try this. He got here into our clubhouse understanding he does not need to be the piece that retains everyone collectively and all that. He can deal with what he does on the sector and what he does greatest, which is hit.”
Hernández’s manufacturing remained regular all through the 2024 season, devoid of the highs and lows which have at instances 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 strategy didn’t waver. He drew seven walks throughout that stretch, a circumstance that stunned even him. Outcomes weren’t going his means, however he didn’t chase. He didn’t turn out to be impatient.
In Sport 6, on the night time 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 do know that I will fail, I do know that I will make errors, however this 12 months I’ve that confidence,” Hernández stated. “I do know in some unspecified time in the future I will be again, hitting the ball arduous, hitting homers, getting on base, making performs.”
When Yankee Stadium hosted a high-profile Dodgers-Yankees matchup over the summer time, 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 dwelling 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 group — has introduced out a specific degree of pleasure with him.
“It should be loopy,” Hernández stated of a World Collection that may shift to the Bronx for Video games 3, 4 and, if the Dodgers do not sweep, 5. “However I like that. I like challenges. I like when issues get actually arduous. And I feel that is if you see the very best out of me, if you’re dealing with a extremely good pitcher, a extremely good group. There’s simply one thing about these moments that I like.”
The 2024 season started with a threat. It can finish with progress and validation. With a reaffirming of his perception that issues occur for a cause. 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 should not need to settle.
Solely a handful of groups needed Hernández over the offseason. Now top-of-the-line does not know the place it might be with out him.
“What are they going to say now?” Hernández stated. “I need to see what excuses they will say now.”
