Hernández was one of 17 pitchers to start a game for LA in 2024, and one of three Hernándezes to play for the team in 2024.
Six of 12 Dodgers pitchers who were non-roster invitees during spring training found their way to the majors with Los Angeles during the season. That included Elieser Hernández, who delivered a quality start in 100 percent of his starts for the Dodgers.
Hernández signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers in January after spending 2023 in the minors with the Mets while rehabbing a shoulder strain. He put up a strong 2.83 ERA in six games for Triple-A Oklahoma City before getting called up on May 15 to make a spot start in San Francisco.
Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run home run in the third inning off Hernández, who allowed another run in the sixth inning but that was it. The right-hander did what was asked with three strikeouts and a walk, but the Dodgers could not score off Logan Webb and scored only once in the game in a loss to the Giants.
Hernández did not have options so he stuck around on the roster for a while as a long reliever, but had trouble keeping the ball in the park, allowing four home runs in 3⅔ innings in his four games out of the bullpen.
When Evan Phillips returned from a hamstring strain on May 31, Hernández was designated for assignment to make roster room. Hernández cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A, but he declined the assignment and instead elected free agency.
On June 8, Hernández latched on with the Brewers, and allowed two runs in six innings in his four games in relief over 16 days with Milwaukee. He finished off the season pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization with the LG Twins.
2024 particulars
Age: 29
Stats: 5 G, 8.38 ERA, 9⅔ IP, 9 R, 5 HR, 3 BB, 6 K with Dodgers
Salary: unknown
Game of the year
Hernández’s first game was his best with the Dodgers, allowing three runs in six innings against the Giants on June 15, even in a loss.
The Dodgers were 42-8 in games when their pitcher delivered a quality start in 2024, but Hernández suffered one of the eight losses (the team was 4-3 in games with the minimum quality start of exactly six innings and three earned runs).
Roster status
Hernández re-upped with the LG Twins in the KBO for 2025 for a reported $1.3 million.