Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández has been a productive defensive presence at any place he’s known as upon.
Particularly with a number of the depth points LA has battled by means of this season, Hernández has been plugged in at first, second, and third base, in addition to left and centerfield. To not point out, Hernández has made 5 appearances as a reduction pitcher this season when the state of affairs permits it.
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Hernández spoke to Dodgers Insider’s Megan Garcia a few objective that he nonetheless has but to realize throughout his MLB profession, and one thing {that a} participant he used to mentor in Houston Astros infielder Mauricio Dubon achieved in 2023: the Utility Gold Glove award.
“When [Dubon] gained the Gold Glove, he really despatched me a textual content and mentioned, ‘Thanks for the assistance.’ He mentioned I performed a giant half in him with the ability to win the utility Gold Glove,” Hernández mentioned. “That was a fairly cool second for me. Regardless that a Gold Glove has been a objective and a dream of mine my total life, to have the ability to have someone say that I helped them get one, it’s nonetheless fairly cool.”
Hernández had an unlikely catalyst that launched his profession into the utility route, and that was Astros second baseman Jose Altuve.
Whereas Hernández was nonetheless in Houston’s farm system as a second baseman, he was near breaking out in 2014, however there was fairly a blockage within the type of an All-Star Altuve wanting increasingly like the way forward for the franchise in Texas.
This pressured Hernández to get higher at offering his providers wherever he was wanted, and led to his July 1st, 2014 debut. The 2014 season was a marketing campaign the place Hernández performed at shortstop, left subject, and middle subject.
To Hernández, although, being the Swiss military knife for the Dodgers is extra than simply the function he has carved out for himself, however relatively part of his identification.
“It’s form of change into a part of who I’m. I’m simply not getting used to enjoying in a single spot, and I assume it retains issues attention-grabbing for me. However aside from that, it’s simply one other day of labor.”
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Picture Credit score: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports activities
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