The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signing Teoscar Hernández to a multi-year contract to keep him as part of their quest to repeat as World Series champions signaled the organization’s affinity for the right-handed slugger and what he means to the franchise.
Hernández’s three-year, $66 million contract includes a team option for the 2028 season. He received a $23 million signing bonus and has deferred salary in the deal.
While Hernández is remaining with the Dodgers, his return is coming at a new, albeit familiar position, as there’s going to be a shift to right field.
“I feel great,” Hernández said about the change. “I’m going to my regular position that I’ve been playing my whole career. But it doesn’t matter where you put me, I’m going to try to do my best and do everything in my power to help this team win a championship again.”
Hernández logged only 436.1 innings in right field this past season, mainly because the Dodgers had a few different pieces to juggle in their outfield. Mookie Betts sliding back out there once he returned from a left hand fracture also blocked the position during the second half.
Prior to his Dodgers tenure beginning, Hernández had 1,160.1 defensive innings in right field in 2023 with the Seattle Mariners, the most of his career. Hernández flashed a strong arm in 2024, regardless of position, a tool that bodes very well for his value going forward.
Hernández did grade out well in right field during the Dodgers’ World Series season, finishing with a 17.9 UZR/150, a park-adjusted stat that quantifies how many runs a player saves through several metrics.
Teoscar Hernández’s value to Dodgers
The Dodgers made the reunion with Hernández official last week, after a slow, and to fans, painful wait until the two parties came to an agreement.
During his press conference, Hernández stated he was going to do whatever it took to re-sign with the Dodgers. That fell in line with what he desired all of last season and seemingly made for a perfect match.
Dodgers fans gravitated to him, and so did the big moments throughout the season and playoffs. Hernández’s value cannot be understated, because without his calm demeanor, there is no game-tying swing in the clinching World Series game.
Being such a left-handed heavy lineup, Hernández’s inclusion in that mix was paramount for how the Dodgers plan to stay atop the baseball world.
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