Teoscar Hernández was one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ most dangerous hitters in the early part of the 2025 season, batting .315/.333/.600 with nine home runs and 34 RBI through his first 162 at-bats.
But a left groin strain suffered against the Miami Marlins on May 5 put his season on hold and derailed Hernández’s momentum at the plate. Hernández spent two weeks on the 10-day injured list and it has been a struggle for him to get back to his pre-injury form so far.
Hernández has been searching for his rhythm at the plate since being activated. In 21 games since May 19, he has a .173 batting average, 13 RBI and only seven extra-base hits.
Hernández’s struggles have prompted a lineup change from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, but the hope is that it will be temporary. The plan now calls for Will Smith to be the cleanup hitter in the Dodgers lineup.
“He’s missing pitches, like with most hitters when they’re struggling. Balls you should move forward, he’s not. Then there’s more chase because he’s getting behind. I think that’s kind of the hitting part of it,” Roberts said of Hernández’s struggles.
“I talk to him a lot, he says he feels good. I think Will is swinging the bat better, so I want Will to get the extra at-bat. So when Will’s in there, I’ll kind of leave it that way until Teo gets back to being who he is, because I love him in the four when he’s right. But clearly, the last few weeks he’s been scuffling.”
Dodgers won’t move Teoscar Hernández in outfield
Hernández’s defense has also been an issue this season, with his lack of range being particularly glaring. He has spent all of his time in right field this season, a change from 2024, when Hernández played mostly in left field.
Michael Conforto has been occupying left field whenever he is in the lineup this season. Conforto exclusively played left field last season with the San Francisco Giants and that has remained the same with the Dodgers.
While there has been a change with where Hernández is hitting in the lineup, the Dodgers don’t plan on adjusting their outfield configuration when Conforto doesn’t start.
“He feels most comfortable in right. Last year, the metrics, his comfort level, weren’t good in left,” Roberts noted. “So to kind of move him to left field doesn’t seem to make sense. But yeah, there’s plays that need to be made in right field, and we need to make those.”
Over his career, the 32-year-old has played 560 games in right field compared to 359 in left field.
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