by Megan Garcia
Teoscar Hernández is back at Yankee Stadium — the site of a weekend tear in June that ended with him being honored with the National League Player of the Week.
Being two wins away from his first World Series title, he has chosen not to reflect on the June 7–9 series too much. He knows the circumstances are different in the Fall Classic. Hernández isn’t chasing anything from the summer.
“What I’m putting on my mind is, ‘What can you do to help the Dodgers win (the World Series) games?” Hernández said.
However, his World Series numbers seem to be a continuation of the summer series. Hernández has gone 3-for-8 in the World Series, thus far. And just like he did back in June, the slugger showed off his power against the Yankees.
His two-run homer in the third inning off Carlos Rodón broke the 1–1 tie in Game 2 on Saturday. The Dodgers tacked on another run to secure their 4–2 victory, and ultimately 2–0 series lead.
“It was special, not only for me personally, but because I put the team in front,” Hernández said of his first World Series home run. “For me, I always say it, I don’t care how I do as long as the team wins. That’s what matters for me. In this World Series, just trying to do the things that I know how to do and just help the team.”
Hernández has helped the Dodgers plenty in 2024. The early June series in New York exemplifies it best.
He hit a grand slam in the eighth inning of the middle game of the series on June 8. He drove in six runs that night in the Dodgers’ 11–3 victory.
He totaled six hits –three being homers — with nine RBI in the series.
Now four months later, Hernández returns to Yankee Stadium in the World Series.
Despite having a championship ring from the 2017 Houston Astros, the nine-year veteran has never appeared in the Fall Classic. Now, he’s relishing the experience he expected when he joined the Dodgers.
“He left money on the table to sign with the Dodgers,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He wanted a chance to be around some of the best players in the game and learn from these guys. Since day one is Spring Training, he’s watched Shohei, Freddie (and) Mookie really intently and taking things from those guys to kind of enhance his game.”
Hernández went 8-for-40 between the Division Series and League Championship Series. He broke through in Game 6 of the NLCS with two hits to help the Dodgers punch their ticket to the World Series.
This is the first time the 31-year-old veteran has played in a round surpassing the Wild Card Series. The 2022 season was the last time Hernández appeared in the postseason.
In a wild game 2, Hernández hit two homers and drove in four runs in the Blue Jays’ 10–9 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Two years later, he had an impactful first regular season with the Dodgers.
Hernández set a career high in home runs (33) and drove in 99 RBI while slashing .272/.339/.501/.840 — the home runs and OPS led all National League outfielders. He also walked away with the title of Home Run Derby Champion in Texas as a a second-time All-Star Game selection. His increased production at the plate roots his personal changes in the offseason.
“I’m more mature as a player and as a person,” Hernández said. “I know the things that I can do. I know how to handle the struggles better. I think that comes with the players that we have here; the way they support their teammates. I think that’s what the difference has been.”
His impact in the clubhouse has made a notable difference for rookie Andy Pages. The younger hitter has navigated his respective struggles in his first year in the big leagues. Back in September, as the regular season dwindled to its final games, he asked Hernández an important question.
“I asked him, ‘What’s the postseason like?’” Pages said. “I’ve kind of seen that fans get louder. I feel like that kind of fuels me, but I’ve never experienced it before on that level.”
During the National League Division Series, he went 6-for-18 and slashed .333/.400/.667/1.067 with two home runs, six hits and seven RBI in 20 plate appearances.
In the National League Championship Series, he struggled against the fastball in the first five games. He was hitless in 18 at-bats — nine being against the fastball — before he finally supplied two hits in Game 6, both on fastballs.
His homer against the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series was just another example of how valuable he has been this season for the Dodgers.
“I put a lot of work into the offseason,” Hernández said. “I came here trying to learn from the guys that already had success with big league organizations. (I tried to) put myself in a good spot and tried to make my teammates better, too.”
World Series: The return of Teoscar to Yankee Stadium was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.