Kiké Hernández not only became a free agent after the Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2025 World Series, but he also underwent left elbow surgery to repair an issue that had plagued him for most of the year.
Hernández recently disclosed his operation was an extensor repair that could potentially sideline him until May of next season.
Hernández missed almost two months this year because of left elbow trouble. He suffered the injury on a head-first slide into home plate during a game against the Cleveland Guardians on May 28.
During an appearance on “Baseball & Coffee” hosted by Adam Ottavino, Hernández also revealed that he played through a UCL injury in his left elbow for most of the 2025 season:
“They didn’t want to touch my UCL. They didn’t check it this time around. In July, there was a tear there, but Dr. ElAttrache was like, ‘I’m not going to worry about your UCL because it’s your bottom arm and you don’t put a lot of stress on it when you swing. So he was like, ‘I’m not going to let you miss a full year of baseball for your non-throwing arm.’”
Had Hernández underwent surgery to repair his UCL, it likely would have further delayed his return next year.
Hernández initially attempted to play through the elbow injury but it significantly impacted him at the plate and he wound up going on the 10-day injured list on July 7.
The 34-year-old didn’t return until Aug. 25, which came after he underwent nonsurgical procedures in effort to find a solution.
Hernández finished the season hitting .203/.255/.366 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 35 RBI in 92 games. He battled through elbow discomfort to play in all 17 postseason games and helped turn a crucial double play to win Game 6 of the World Series.
Kiké Hernández missing World Baseball Classic
As a result of his elbow surgery, Hernández won’t be able to play for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
It isn’t clear if the operation will have an impact on Hernández’s free agency, but his postseason pedigree and versatility could lead to another reunion with the Dodgers.
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!
