Teoscar Hernández capped off a walk-off win for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, showcasing their strong ability to do damage late in games.
Even with the bullpen faltering through the later innings, the offense rallied while down to their last out with back-to-back doubles from Will Smith and Freddie Freeman to tie the game. Hernández stepped in against Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald, and barreled a second-pitch four-seam fastball into left field, plating the winning run.
Hernández’s 100.2 mph walk-off single was another notch in his high-leverage belt this season, as he’s earned the nod as one of the Dodgers’ most clutch hitters.
“When I’m at home plate, I’m just trying not to think about it, just to not put extra pressure on it or to not get anxious,” Hernández said. “I just try to calm down, slow my body down, and get a pitch that I can put in play and wait for the results.”
Following an impressive trio of Shohei Ohtani, Smith and Freeman, Hernández acknowledges his spot in the lineup will come with runners on base.
“I mean, yeah. When you got guys like Freddie, Ohtani, Smith, Mookie when he was in the lineup, when you hit behind those guys, all the big moments in the games are going to happen,” Hernández said. “It’s going to find you because they’re always going to be on base, and big situations are always going to be for three-hole, four or five-hole in the lineup.”
Hernández explained that with the caliber of bats in their lineup, the at-bat quality can, at times, be overwhelming for opposing pitchers.
“We’re never going to be out of it,” Hernández said. “We’re always going to be fighting until the last out. We’re going to fight every at-bat, trying to get on for the next guy. And that’s what we did today after two outs.”
Hernández’s 58 RBI only trails Ohtani (64) for the team lead, and his bid for the All-Star Game for his second career selection is still alive.
Dodgers coaches have previously said that his insertion into the lineup has ‘been big’ for the team, a sentiment that has proved to be true.
Could the Dodgers re-sign Teoscar Hernández?
The Dodgers absolutely could bring Hernández back on a multi-year contract, but the right-handed slugger could be in-line for a solid payday following this season.
Hernández taking a lesser deal to be with the Dodgers was a bet on himself and is paying off thus far. Without concrete pieces to the outfield, the veteran should be on the priority list for the front office.
It’s likely he will receive a qualifying offer in the offseason, and that could further entice him to stay.
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