Dodger Fans Love Affair with Enrique Hernandez

He isn’t a product of the Dodgers system; he was actually drafted by the Astros in the 6th round in 2009. He started his pro career in the Gulf League, a rookie level team. He was 17 years old. He showed versatility from the beginning playing SS and 2B primarily. He played in 53 games his first-year batting .295/1/27. He had 8 steals, 12 doubles and 3 triples. He struck out 28 times and drew 10 walks.

He made it to the majors in 2014 at 22 years old. He played in 24 games for the Astros and then at the deadline, July 31, 2014, he and Jared Cosart and a minor leaguer named Austin Wells, were traded to the Miami Marlins for Jake Marisnick, Francis Martes, Colin Moran and a 2015 competitive balance pick in round A. Overall in 42 games with the two teams, he batted .248 with 3 homers and 14 RBIs. He struck out 21 times and walked 12.

That December, he was part of the first major trade made by Andrew Freidman. LA traded Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas and cash to Miami for Chris Hatcher, Austin Barnes, Andrew Heaney and Enrique. Few Dodgers fans have ever called him that, to them, he is simply Kike.

His father was a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates, his mother, who is Cuban, owns a boutique in Puerto Rico. Kike as he is called, started playing baseball at the age of six. He would compete in international tournaments in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. He attended school at the American Military Academy in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He was just 5’6″ his junior year, but he grew 5″ during his senior year.

The Astros drafted him in 2009 in the sixth round at just 17 years old. He received a 150,000-dollar bonus. His MLB debut came in 2014 against the Mariners on July 1. He got two hits, his first being a ground-rule double off of Dominic Leone. The next day, he hit his first homer off of Chris Young, yep, the same Chris Young who is now running the Rangers.

Freidman had acquired the versatile player to be a late inning defensive replacement at second, third, SS and the outfield. He played 20 games at 2nd, 1 at 3rd, 16 at SS and 34 in the outfield where he appeared at all three positions. What wasn’t expected was the .307/7/22 with a .836 OPS offense. He played in all five games of the LDS loss to the Mets going 4-13. He had no extra base hits and did not drive in a run.

Kike was very energetic and sort of a clubhouse cutup. He reveled at getting a laugh out of teammates. One time he showed up in a banana suit. If he had a fault at the plate, it was that at times, he became pull happy. This resulted in increased Ks.

In 2016, he played in 109 games, once more as the super-sub, but his BA plummeted to .190. He hit 7 homers and drove in 18. He was 0-8 in the LCS against the Cubs. He did not play in the LDS against the Nationals.

In 2017, it was more of the same. He got into 140 games. His BA improved 25 points to .215. He hit 11 homers and drove in 37. His OPS improved to .729, his K rate increased to about 2-1. His OBP though was barely above .300. In the postseason, the fans love affair with him began to get bigger. He was 1-3 against Az in the LDS, then he hit .444 against the Cubs in the LCS crushing 3 homers and driving in 7 in game six. The MVP award though went to Chris Taylor and Justin Turner. He got 16 plate appearances in the World Series loss, but was just 3-12 in the series with 1 driven in.

In 2018, Kike played in 145 games, the bulk of them, 87 in the outfield. 63 of those came as the centerfielder. He posted a 3.4 WAR, highest of his career to that point, slashed .256/.336/.470 with 21 homers, 52 driven in and a .806 OPS. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, those numbers did not translate into postseason play. He was 5-41, .121, with 2 homers and 3 driven in.

In 2019, he played in 130 games. His slash line was .237/.304/.411 with 17 homers and 64 driven in. The bad was that he struck out 97 times and walked just 36. He was 3-7 in the LDS loss to the Nationals, with a homer and 3 driven home. He also had a double.

In 2020, Kike got into 48 of the Dodgers 60 games. He hit .230 with 5 homers and 20 RBIs. He struck out 31 times and walked just 6. He played 30 of those games at 2nd base. In the playoffs, he was simply a defensive replacement against the Brewers in both games. He was 0-5 against the Padres. He was 4-13 against the Braves with 2 solo homers and 2 driven in. The most important of which was his game tying PH solo shot off of AJ Mintner in the 6th inning of game 7. Bellinger hit the winning homer the next inning off of Chris Martin. When doing an arm bump with Bellinger, Bellinger dislocated his shoulder.

In the World Series against Tampa, Kike was just 2-10. He did drive in 2 runs and scored 1. Kike had signed a 1-year deal prior to the 2020 season avoiding arbitration. For whatever reason, the Dodgers decided to let Kike become a free agent so he could pursue a starting job elsewhere. Gavin Lux was due to become the starter at 2nd base in 21, and Chris Taylor was their super sub. He would be the last player to wear #14 as it was retired in June of 2022 after Dodger great Gil Hodges finally made it into the Hall as a player.

On the 2nd of February in 21, he signed a 2-year-14-million-dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox. Initially he was the Sox starting CF. He would play in 134 games for the Sox. He posted his highest WAR ever at 4.9. He slashed .250/.347/.449 with a .786 OPS, 20 homers and 60 driven in. He set a career high with 35 doubles. He struck out 110 times and walked 61. Not used as much as a utility player, he played 93 games in the outfield.

In the postseason, he was a combined 20-52, .384 with 5 homers and 9 driven in. By far his best postseason performance ever. Boston still lost to the Astros in the ALCS, 4-2. In 23, his stats nosedived. In his defense, he went on the IL on June 8th with a flexor strain. He returned August 16th. The Sox signed him to a 1-year extension for 10 million on September 6th. In 93 games he slashed .222/.291/.338. He hit 6 homers and drove in 45.

At the beginning of 2023, longtime SS Xavier Bogaerts had left in free agency and Kike became a leader in the Sox clubhouse. He was also instrumental in recruiting Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen to the Sox. With Bogaerts gone, and Story on the IL, Kike was the opening day SS. After 46 games and a league leading 14 errors, he was removed from the position. He mostly played 2nd the rest of his time with the Sox, but injuries put him back at SS for a while. He played in 86 games for Boston, hitting .222 with 6 homers and 31 driven in. On July 25th, the Sox traded him back to the Dodgers for Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman.

Back with LA, Kike was issued #8 because #14 was retired when Hodges went into the Hall. He would play 54 games with LA hitting .262 with 5 homers and 30 driven in. He was 3-8 in LA’s 3 game LDS loss to the D-Backs. In 24, it was back to his role as a super sub, and as in many seasons before, he played multiple positions during the year, including 4 stints as a relief pitcher in blowout games. His ERA was 4.15 in 4.1 innings. At the plate, it was a typical Kike season, .229/.281/.373 with 12 homers and 42 RBI’s. His K ratio was close to 3-1 striking out 77 times to 27 walks.

He had a solid postseason run, 15-51, .294 with 2 homers and 6 RBIs, and LA won its 8th World Series. Kike also gained some not-so-great attention when he muttered the F word on live TV. But the fans still loved the guy and showed that love at the parade and gathering downtown. He got some of the loudest cheers.

In 2025, Kike only played in 92 games. He spent time on the IL with inflammation in his elbow. He said it affected his swing. His BA dropped to .203. He did manage to hit 10 homers and drive in 35. In the post season, he was 4-8 in the Wild Card series with the Reds. He had a double and an RBI. Against the Phillies in the LDS, 3-14 with a double and 3 driven in. He was 4-14 against the Brewers in the LCS. 2 doubles and no RBIs. In the World Series against Toronto, he went 5-28 with a homer and 3 driven in. His biggest contribution was on defense, where he ran in caught a fly ball in game six at Toronto and fired to Miggy Ro for a game-ending double play. And also, for getting run over by Andy Pages game saving catch in game seven.

Kike underwent elbow surgery in the offseason for torn muscle in his left elbow. LA resigned him and he is supposed to come off of the 60-day-IL sometime in May. One thing is for certain, the fans at Dodger Stadium will give him a rousing welcome the first time he appears at home. Kike is and remains, a fan favorite.

MiLB Game Summary Reports

OKC Comets 3 – Round Rock Express (Texas) 2

LHSP Jackson Ferris pitched his best game in AAA.  He completed 5.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, 2 BB, and 4 K.  Unfortunately 3 of the four hits, and one of the walks came in the 4^th inning, scoring 2.  He left after 5 trailing 2-1.

OKC scored their first run in the 5^th.  The put together three singles by 2B Austin Gauthier, LF Jack Suwinski, and C Chuckie Robinson.

In the 7^th, Suwinski hit his 7^th HR, and the Comets tied it up.

In the 9^th, DH Tyler Fitzgerald doubled, and came home after a couple of ground balls.

After Ferris departed, RHRP Carlos Duran, RHRP Brock Stewart, and RHRP Wyatt Mills pitched the final four innings.  Only one batter reached base via a BB.  Stewart pitched to one batter, with a runner on base, and that was his back to back outing.

Jack Suwinski and SS Noah Miller were the two OKC with 2 hits.

Box Score

San Antonio Missions (Padres) 5 – Tulsa Drillers 4

RHSP Patrick Copen completed 5.0 scoreless innings on 2 hits and 1 BB.  In the 6^th, Copen struck out the first two batters, but then HBP the next.  He walked the next batter, and the next batter got an infield single.  However, two unearned runs scored on the errant throw.  Overall, Copen pitched 6.0 innings, allowing 2 unearned runs, 3 hits, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 6 strikeouts.  He lowered his ERA to 0.96

Tulsa scored the first run in the 4^th on SS Elijah Hainline’s 3^rd HR.  Tulsa tied the score in the 7^th on three singles by C Griffin Lockwood-Powell, LF Chris Newell, and 2B Sean McLain.

LHRP Christian Suarez pitched the next three innings.  He did not allow a run, on 2 hits, and 1 K.

The game went into extra innings.  Neither team scored in the 10^th.

In the 11^th, with RHRP Lucas Wepf on the hill, with the placed runner, he got the first two outs, but allowed a 2-run HR.

In the bottom of the 11^th, GLP hit a game tying 2-run HR.

RHRP Kelvin Ramirez pitched the 12^th.  The placed runner moved to third on a sac bunt, and scored on a sac fly.

Tulsa could not score in the 12^th and fell to the Express 5-4.

Hainline and GLP were the only Tulsa hitters with 2 hits, and with their two HR, were the only hitters with XBH.

Box Score

Great Lakes Loons 6 – Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) 3 – Game 1, 7 Innings

CF Charles Davalan hit a lead off HR (5) to give Great Lakes a lead they would not relinquish.

Davalan demolishes another one! pic.twitter.com/kSiFvmRulV

— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) April 30, 2026

Davalan opened the third with a BB, and not to be outdone, RF Mike Sirota slugged a 2-run HR (3).  But neither were done.

After 3.0 scoreless innings, LHSP Sterling Patick seemingly lost in in the 4^th.  The first 4 batters reached, 2 via BB, and 2 singles.  After a sac fly, the Chiefs had scored 2. After Patick walked the next batter, he left with the bases loaded, 1 out, and a 3-2 lead.

RHRP Davis Chastain relieved Patick and got the final two outs without any other runner crossing the plate.

In the bottom of the 4^th, after the first 2 batters were retired, Davalan hit his second solo HR (6).

Charles Davalan is actually insane. Another two-HR game?pic.twitter.com/ZcPs4tpgTv

— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) April 30, 2026

Chastain allowed an unearned run in the 5^th.

Sirota hit his 2^nd HR in the 6^th (4).  The Loons scored another run (unearned) giving them a 6-3 lead going into the 7^th.  LHRP Cody Morse pitched a scoreless 7^th for his first save.

• Mike Sirota – 3-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 HR (4)
• Charles Davalan – 2-3, 1 BB, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR (6)

SS Jose Izarra had the other XBH, a double (3).

Box Score

Great Lakes Loons 5 – Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) 3 – Game 2, 7 Innings

RHSP Brooks Auger started and completed 3.0 innings.  In the 1^st, he gave up a one out BB, and he scored on a 2-out double.

With one out in the 1st, CF Mike Sirota hit his 3^rd HR of the day and 5^th overall.  With 2 out, 2B Logan Wagner doubled and RF Jose Meza singled home Wagner for a 2-1 lead.

https://twitter.com/Bnicklaus7/status/2050056708614172927?s=20

LHRP Jacob Frost entered in the 4^th.  He allowed a leadoff BB.  A SB, WP, and single scored the tying run. 

GL took the lead back in the bottom of the 4^th.  C Victor Rodrigues drew a BB and scored on SS Jordan Thompson’s double (1).

The Chiefs tied it up again in the 6^th with a HR off of Frost.

GL scored two in the bottom of the 6^th, Meza and Rodrigues led off with walks.  Thompson reached on a force out.  Meza scored on the throwing error.  Singles by 1B Samuel Munoz and LF Charles Davalan brought home Thompson and a 5-3 lead.

Frost finished his 4^th inning by striking out the side.  Overall, Frost completed 4.0 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 BB, and 8K.

Logan Wagner had two doubles, and was the only Loon to have 2 hits. 

Box Score

Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 9 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 3

Ontario scored twice in the first inning.  2B Mairo Martinus led off with a double (5).  Martinus scored on SS Emil Morales’ 10^th double.  Morales moved to 3^rd on a ground ball, and scored on RF Ching-Hsien Ko’s sac fly.

RHSP Marlon Nieves did not allow a run or hit the first 3.0 innings. But he did surrender 2 walks and a HBP.  In the 4^th, Nieves got the first out, but then came 2 singles and a 3-run HR. RHRP Jholbran Herder finished the 4^th and pitched a scoreless 5^th.

In the bottom of the 5^th, 1B Jose D. Hernandez led off the inning with a double (3).  He moved to 3B on a F-9, and scored on a fielder’s choice.

RHRP Domingo German pitched a scoreless 6^th, but with traffic.

With RHRP Jhonny Jimenez pitching the 7^th, the Storm scored 1 on three walks and a single.

Inland Empire broke it open in the 9^th with 5 runs. 

Six Ontario pitchers combined for 9 runs on 9 hits and 16 BB. 

Emil Morales was the lone Ontario hitter with 2 hits. 

Box Score