Teoscar Hernández flew under the radar as an offseason addition given all the excitement around Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but he quickly began to make an impact for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Among other accolades and recognition, Hernández’s success earned him a selection to the 2024 MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field. He also participated in the Home Run Derby and became the Dodgers’ first champion.
The Dodgers had six All-Stars this year, with Freddie Freeman, Ohtani and Will Smith accompanying Hernández in participating in the game. Mookie Betts and Tyler Glasnow weren’t available because of respective injuries.
Ohtani made his presence felt as a new member of the National League, launching a three-run home run in the top of the third inning. As he was entering the dugout, Hernández christened his teammate with the well-known sunflower seeds celebration that’s become commonplace for the Dodgers.
Hernández mentioned that he was unsure how it would be received by Ohtani when it was first done, but it’s become welcomed, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“It was funny – but he got a little bit scared, I think it was, the first time I threw it at him,” Teoscar Hernandez recalled with his ever-present smile spreading a little wider. “But after that, he was ready for it, the seeds.”
Where the sunflower seed shower began belongs to Hernández, who said that it’s nearly a decade old from his days with the Toronto Blue Jays:
“It started when I got traded to Toronto,” Mr. Seeds said of his origins story. “I got traded in ’17. That’s when all the teams started celebrating homers and all that stuff. The Blue Jays didn’t have anything. At that time they had a contract with a different brand of sunflower seeds – and we had a bunch. So I started throwing and throwing and throwing.
“So everywhere I go that’s a thing. When I got here, I asked the guys, ‘Hey, when we hit a homer, is it okay if I do this?’ They all said, ‘Yeah, for sure, for sure.’ So I started doing it.”
The tradition has stuck with him through several years, and multiple teams. Starting in 2017 with the Blue Jays, then the Seattle Mariners and the Dodgers, Hernández is always at the top step following a home run.
Sunflower seeds in hand, Hernández is equipped with the energy and joyous behavior to help inspire the best from teammates.
Shohei Ohtani helped Teoscar Hernández in Home Run Derby
Although Shohei Ohtani did not participate this year, he still ended up having an affect on the outcome of the Home Run Derby by giving advice to Hernández.
“He said to hit the ball to left-center, to not pull it,” Hernández recalled. “I had a better chance because of the way my swing is. It’s far, but he said, ‘it’s better for you.’”
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