Teoscar Hernandez quickly became a fan favorite in his first season in Los Angeles, and his play this year leaves the front office no choice but to make extending him a priority.
His 10th-inning RBI walk-off single to give the Dodgers the sweep over the Pirates on Aug. 11 was just the latest example of his value to the team.
“I don’t think there is any better feeling than that one, but I am so happy that I can do that for my team, and we can get the win today,” said Hernandez.
Los Angeles has struggled with winning and health over much of the past two months. The Padres and Diamondbacks are quickly closing in on first place in the NL West, and without Hernandez, there is no telling how long ago the Dodgers would have hit the panic button.
“I don’t think any of the other players are thinking about what San Diego or Arizona are doing. We are just trying to do our job. It doesn’t matter how close they are. We are just trying to keep winning,” said Hernandez.
He is likable, marketable, durable, and an undeniable force at the plate. Despite having two All-Star appearances, two Silver Sluggers, and a Home Run Derby championship under his belt, Hernandez still seems to be one of the more underrated hitters in the league.
Since 2020, he has had the 13th most home runs in baseball and possesses the most important quality that does not always show up in the stats: He is clutch.
Every one of his 80 RBIs this season has seemed to come in a meaningful moment. This is a quality the Dodgers’ lineup always seems to lack come postseason time, and letting Hernandez leave in free agency would be telling as to why they only have one championship since 1988.
Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger proved they would step up in big moments in 2020, and they let them walk. The Dodgers roster is tremendously talented, but it lacks guys who consistently deliver in the late innings down a run with men on base. When Hernandez comes to the plate in those situations, he delivers.
He also delivers in the availability department. Every team deals with injuries, but for whatever reason, the Dodgers consistently struggle with keeping players on the field. Health is one of the most important aspects when fielding a team, and Hernandez has never missed more than 37 games since becoming a full-time player in 2018. This season, he has only sat twice in 118 games.
“We had a lot of things going on the last couple of weeks, but like I always say, we are gonna keep fighting, keep battling, and we came back in this one and won the ball game.”
Signing Teoscar Hernandez to a multi-year extension should be at the top of the Dodgers’ offseason list, and based on the money this team spends, getting it done should not be an issue.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.