With the 2015 regular season coming to a close, the Los Angeles Dodgers received a shot in the arm as utility man Kiké Hernandez was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday.
Hernandez had been on the disabled list with a hamstring injury since Aug. 31 and prior to the injury, was playing his best baseball of the season. It translated to Hernandez earning himself an everyday role in center field while rookie Joc Pederson was struggling at the plate.
The 24-year-old Hernandez picked up right where he left off Monday night, as he came into the game as a defensive replacement, and managed to go 2-for-2, though the Dodgers lost to the San Francisco Giants in 12 innings.
Hernandez appeared to be 100 percent healthy, which he claimed was the case before appearing in his first game back. While Pederson has improved at the plate since Hernandez was last available, the utility man said he’s willing to play exactly that kind of role, according to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
I understand I missed a month,” Hernandez said. “Whatever Donnie needs me to do, I’m ready to do it. I can play every day or come off the bench. Whatever they need.”
While Hernandez has received time at several positions throughout the season, he focused on two spots during in his rehab at the club’s Camelback Ranch spring training complex:
Kike' Hernandez said he did defensive work at 3B and CF in AZ. An indication where #Dodgers see his usage in postseason.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 29, 2015
In his first full Major League season, Hernandez is batting .316/.365/.497 with six home runs and 21 RBIs over 72 games entering play Tuesday night. Should he manage to reach the same level of success before landing on the disabled list, it isn’t beyond reason to believe it won’t be long until Hernandez is again starting in center field.
