Similar to their starting rotation, the Los Angeles Dodgers boast a formidable lineup that features an excellent blend of star power, youth and depth.
Early MVP favorite Cody Bellinger has led the way with eye-popping numbers while the likes of Alex Verdugo, Max Muncy and Justin Turner have all enjoyed plenty of success as well. While the offense statistically checks out as one of the best in baseball this season, a few notable players haven’t quite lived up to expectations.
One being Kiké Hernandez, who looked bound for a breakout campaign after being named the Dodgers’ starting second baseman at the end of Spring Training. Despite enjoying initial success over parts of March and April, Hernandez has struggled for a large portion of the 2019 season.
He is hitting a mere .232/.305/.429 with 11 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs and 51 RBI in 347 plate appearances (94 games). Hernandez, however, has swung the bat much better as of late — particularly in the second half, where he is batting .385/.500/.654 with three extra-base hits in eight games.
Hernandez attributed his recent success at the plate due to a few mechanical adjustments made, as well as simply swinging at better pitches, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I made a few little adjustments mechanically,” Hernandez said. “But I think the biggest part has been taking balls and swinging at strikes. I’ve been doing a better job of that lately. If I can shrink my zone and hunt pitches I can do damage on and not swing at the other ones, I’m going to have a better chance of succeeding than what I was doing the last few months.”
Hernandez’s new approach at the plate has certainly garnered positive results. During the Dodgers’ recent East Coast road trip against the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, he drew the same amount of walks (six) as strikeouts while appearing in all seven contests.
The 27-year-old also enjoyed what was arguably his best statistical game of the season in last Thursday’s finale against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Hernandez went 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI — his first multi-homer game since Opening Day against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 14 games (11 starts) during the month of July, Hernandez is batting .333/.412/.578 with two doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI over 51 plate appearances. He has recorded at least one hit in six of his last nine games dating back to July 7.
