by Cary Osborne
Kiké Hernández struck at the most important moment.
The Dodgers were facing Yu Darvish again in the 2024 National League Division Series, five days after he tied them up in a Padres Game 2 victory.
The Dodgers were now in a win-or-go-home situation for the third straight season when Hernández homered in the bottom of the second inning in Game 5.
The Dodgers went on to win the game 2–0, getting them to the NL Championship Series and adding another reason why Hernández is recognized as a Mr. October.
Hernández, a free agent for the second offseason in a row, is back with the Dodgers on a one-year contract, bringing back his versatility and penchant for big postseason moments.
The 33-year-old is entering his 12th Major League season and ninth with the Dodgers. His regular and postseason production have been:
Career regular season: .238/.308/.405/.713
Career postseason: .278/.353/.522/.874
Manager Dave Roberts has reasoned that Hernández’s best event might be the sprint of the postseason over the marathon of the 162-game season. But few have been better at the sprint.
“We’re in Los Angeles. Some of the greatest athletes of all time. And those great ones aren’t afraid to fail,” Roberts said. “And Kiké, when you talk about postseason in whatever sport, you can’t be afraid to fail. And this guy always rises to the occasion.”
He added: “The reason we got him this year was to win 11 games in October.”
Hall of Fame outfielder Reggie Jackson is Mr. October — a nickname earned with his spectacular production in the postseason. Hernández, though, is pretty close to Jackson.
Jackson: 318 plate appearances, 18 home runs, 48 RBI, .278/.358/.527/.885, one three home run game, 1 HR per 17.7 PA
Hernández: 259 plate appearances, 15 home runs, 35 RBI, .278/.353/.522/.874, one three home run game, 1 HR per 17.3 PA
“I got spoiled very early in my career to get the experience and get the opportunity to do this a lot,” Hernández said after NLDS Game 5. “I think this is my ninth postseason now. It gets a little easier as you do it over and over again. It allows you to realize that it’s the same game. The intensity and the importance of the game is a little — it gets a little enhanced.”
Before October, though, Hernández gives the Dodgers insurance all over the field — he appeared at seven different positions in 2024 and has appeared at every position except for catcher over the last two seasons.
Hernández batted .229/.281/.373/.654 with 12 home runs last season. In August/September, he batted .287/.314/.488/.802 with six home runs.
The Dodgers transferred right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone to the 60-day injured list to make room for Hernández on the 40-man roster.
Dodgers bring back Kiké Hernández for the marathon and especially the sprint was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.