While the utility player label generally implies not seeing the field on a regular basis, such has not been the case for Kiké Hernandez. He played in 76 games in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by 109 games in 2016, and 140 last year.
Entering Tuesday, Hernandez has appeared in 19 of the Dodgers’ 21 games. His latest start came at shortstop, and Hernandez didn’t disappoint. He made a pair of dazzling plays on choppers hit up the middle, doing his part to aid Walker Buehler along in his first career Major League start.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” Hernandez said. “Obviously, I play all over the field but I have a lot of fun playing up the middle. Short or second, doesn’t matter. Those are probably my two favorite positions.
“[But] it doesn’t matter what position I’m playing. If the ball gets hit to me, I expect to make a play. That first one was kind one of those routine sliding plays. The second one, don’t ask me how I made it, because I have no idea. I threw the ball. Didn’t even know where I threw it. I just heard the crowd.”
Hernandez also ignited Dodger Stadium with his leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Up to that point, Marlins starter Jarlin Castro had only allowed a baserunner via a Chris Taylor walk to start the bottom of the first.
“I was playing defense in the top of the fourth and looked at the scoreboard and saw we didn’t have any hits,” Hernandez said. “We’d seen plenty of video on him and we were aware he had given up only one hit in his last two starts.
“I also looked at his pitch count and saw he didn’t have many pitches thrown. So leading off, I was going to take a team at-bat and see as many pitches as I can. Got deep in the count, got to two strikes and it was about staying alive. My first thought was, ‘Hopefully you can foul off a few pitches.’ I did one, then he threw a fastball in, two strikes, you just react to it.”
The home run was Hernandez’s second in the past three games. Over the weekend, his pinch-hit homer provided insurance against the Washington Nationals. Although his last two blasts have been particularly key, Hernandez largely views all homers the same.
“Home runs are fun. I don’t think any of them feel better than the others,” he said. “I’m just trying not to do too much. I’m just trying to help the team win, not have my highs be too high and my lows be too low. I try to stay the same.”
And though Hernandez’s home run gave the Dodgers a lead, it was his bunt single in the eighth inning that led to Cody Bellinger’s sacrifice fly which broke a 1-1 tie. Hot as he’s been at the plate, Hernandez was given the bunt sign with a runner in scoring position and nobody out.
“There was a righty on the mound. I got a hit off a righty,” he deadpanned.
