Kike Hernandez is the postseason star

Kike Hernandez has been a fan favorite and postseason darling during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and if not for injuries, he would not have had the opportunity to be in the everyday lineup.

The Dodgers’ starting pitching rotation has been ravaged by injuries all season, and now their lineup has also taken a hit. Although never a good thing, Los Angeles may not have made it out of the National League Division Series without them.

Miguel Rojas is dealing with a sports hernia, Freddie Freeman has a sprained ankle, and Gavin Lux is nursing a tightened hip flexor, all of which has opened the door for Kike Hernandez to step in.

Unsurprisingly, the 11-year veteran utility player has delivered again in the postseason. He is slashing .346/.370/.577 with two home runs and nine hits in 26 at-bats.

Hernandez came through with the most important swing so far this year with a solo homer in game 5 of the NLDS that ultimately ended the San Diego Padres season. His game-tying home run in game 7 of the 2020 NLCS remains one of the biggest hits in Dodgers playoff history.

After game 3 of the NLCS against the New York Mets, Hernandez ranked 18th all-time in career postseason home runs (15), and it only took 200 at-bats to get there. He has the fourth-highest road OPS in MLB postseason history (1.077) behind Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Carlos Beltran.

There is stepping up when the lights are the brightest, and then there is Kike Hernandez.

Kiké taking a bite out of the Big Apple. pic.twitter.com/BbT8RkfgQa

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 17, 2024

“These are the games we have been dreaming of as kids. I got spoiled very early in my career to get the experience and be able to do this a lot. This is my ninth postseason now, and it gets a little easier as you do it over and over again,” said Hernandez. “It allows you to realize it is the same game. The intensity and importance of the game get enhanced, but it just brings the best out of me, and I’m glad that it does.”

Perennial all-star players are expected to deliver when needed the most, but Hernandez does not fit that mold. He has a .238 regular season batting average and only hits a home run every 29 at-bats. In the playoffs, he hits one in every 13 plate appearances.

“There are certain players that like the spotlight and like playing in October. It doesn’t matter what the regular season looks like; when this comes, we start over and do it one game at a time,” said Hernandez.

It comes down to confidence and mental preparations for the 33-year-old. Players often crack in pressure-filled situations, but that is when Hernandez excels.

“I do a lot of visualization the night before the games, and I try to put myself in every position and every situation that can come up during the game. I visualize myself having success over and over against their entire pitching staff. Also, the fact that I have had a pretty good track record in October, I can’t help but have confidence. It just makes you believe that you take your game to another level,” said Hernandez.

The Dodgers took a 3-1 series lead over the Mets in the NLCS and are now one win away from the World Series. Hernandez came through again with two hits and an RBI in the game 4 win. He is now a staple in the lineup that will play a huge role in the next round if Los Angeles advances.

Top Photo Caption: NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 16: Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Shohei Ohtani #17 and Tommy Edman #25 after hitting a two RBI home run in the sixth inning during Game 3 of the NLCS presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)