Throughout his 10-season MLB career, Kike Hernandez and his combination of a charismatic personality and clutch performance on the field endeared himself to every team he has played for.
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Yet, it's the Los Angeles Dodgers fan base that seems to have a special adoration for the veteran utility player — especially after Hernandez announced his return to the team in a hilarious way.
On Monday afternoon, Hernandez — who became a free agent following the 2023 season, after three seasons with the Boston Red Sox — ended the speculation of where he would be playing next season when he posted on X, "Sources say..... I'm back!!! 1st to break news @myself."
Sources say….. I’m back!!!
1st to break news @myself
— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) February 26, 2024
While this post didn't say specifically which team he'd be returning to, most assumed that Hernandez was alluding to a return to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played with the Dodgers from 2015-2020 and was traded back to them prior to the 2023 MLB trade deadline — which Hernandez then confirmed with a series of incredible posts on his Instagram story.
The first story was a link to the farewell post that Hernandez made to Dodgers nation over three years ago, where he wrote a lengthy caption that included, "Calling DODGER STADIUM home and playing in front of you will FOREVER have a special meaning to me. I will always be able to close my eyes and think about the times you all screamed out my name after a good defensive play or a big hit. It's impossible for me to think about that and not get chills!!"
The follow-up post on his story contained a photo of him smiling mischievously in a Dodgers uniform and writing, "SYYYYKEEEEE!!!!" — clearly indicating that Hernandez would be back in Dodger blue by opening day.
Despite the already fantastic offseason that the Dodgers have had, adding Hernandez to the clubhouse might be the last piece of the puzzle that makes Los Angeles a certified World Series favorite.
The Puerto Rican is clearly a "glue guy," which is a term for guys who can keep camaraderie and good energy in the clubhouse intact regardless of the endless ups and downs that can take place during a grueling MLB season.
Which is to say that, with Hernandez back in Los Angeles, we can expect to see a lot of smiles in the Dodgers' dugout next season — for more reasons than one.
