Kiké Hernández was activated off the 10-day injured list on Tuesday after missing the previous two months due to a left oblique strain.
An MRI on Hernández’s oblique revealed a significant tear, which was especially devastating considering he began the year on the IL while recovering from left elbow surgery. Hernández was in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for just two games before facing another lengthy recovery.
“Honestly, on the car ride back after the MRI. I was sitting in traffic and I got the text from Thomas (Albert, head trainer), and I’m not a doctor or anything, but I think I experienced my first panic attack or anxiety attack,” Hernández recalled when asked to reflect on receiving news of the Grade 3 oblique strain.
“I was driving, sitting in traffic, I had to call my wife and I could barely talk but I was like, ‘This is what happened. I don’t know what’s going on with my body. Maybe I’m too old.’ Just hearing her calm me down, I took a couple deep breaths and I was good to go.
“I did the two months before that and I realized all you can do is take it one day at a time, and the best way you can take things one day at a time is focusing on what you can do today to get better. That’s what I did. I thought about today. I wasn’t really thinking about how far along or anything like that. I was literally just going one day at a time and trying to be the best rehabber I could.
“And during the games I was trying to be the best teammate that I could. I’ve only had four at-bats, I’ve only played two games, and I’ve spent a lot of time on the IL but it’s honestly gone by somewhat fast. I feel pretty good and happy to see what I can do on the field.”
Kiké Hernández worried about 2026 season
Hernández further addmitted he thought his season was over after learning the details of his left oblique strain.
“Oh, sure,” Hernández began. “I’ve never done an oblique before, and obviously I was expecting it to be a Grade 1, or 2 at worst. When I hear Grade 3, I thought it was surgical. I didn’t really know how obliques work; obviously people talk about obliques taking forever and being the worst injury possible.
“The worst part was probably sneezing. Coughing was uncomfortable, sneezing was tough. Lucky for me, my body protected me. I didn’t poop for like six days after I got hurt. People said that was excruciating, but I didn’t experience that. Symptoms-wise, after the shot and everything, people were pretty impressed because I was kind of effing around and being me, running around, pretending to rotate and swing and say, ‘I don’t have a Grade 3. That was a fake MRI.’
“Overall, I feel great. The last hump was I would be symptom-free, but then I would touch it and I would feel it. When we did the six-week scan again, we just saw that was a little hole off the rib but the big tear was fully healed. That’s when I was like, ‘Alright, we’re good to go. Rehab assignment, here we come.’”
Hernández went 4-for-4 with two doubles, one home run and two RBI prior to landing back on the IL. Now that he is back in the fold, there’s some belief the Dodgers may look to trade Alex Call before the Aug. 3 deadline because his spot on the roster is somewhat redundant.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
