While the Los Angeles Dodgers stole the majority of the headlines this offseason with the pouring of over a billion dollars into Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, there was one signing that might have gotten overlooked and underappreciated, but has proven to be extremely savvy, the addition of Teoscar Hernandez on a one year deal worth $25 million.
The former All-Star outfielder has given the Dodgers a right-handed bat to essentially replace the production of JD Martinez last year. He has power, can play either corner outfield position, hits well against lefties, and lengthens the star-studded line up (if such a thing was possible).
Through the first 10 games of this season, Hernandez has already hit four home runs with 12 RBIs and a respectable .257 average. Not to mention, many of those homers and RBIs have been clutch for the Dodgers.
He carried the offense with a two home run game last Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals to lead the Dodgers to a win. He also sparked a late comeback against the Cards last Sunday in a three-run eighth inning, starting things off with a solo home run before Max Muncy eventually hit a go-ahead two-run bomb later in the inning.
Then he smoked a slider off of San Francisco Giants reliever Tyler Rogers for a three-run homer on Monday night to put that game away for the Dodgers.
It’s not just that Hernandez is producing, it’s the fact he’s doing it while batting sixth in the order on most nights. It’s bad enough opposing pitchers have to worry about the “MVP Three” at the top of the lineup with Mookie Betts, Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman followed by Will Smith batting cleanup, and a slugger like Muncy in the fifth spot.
Facing a dangerous hitter like Hernandez in the sixth spot, gives teams little room for error because one of them will make you pay at some point. So far, Hernandez has been that guy taking advantage of pitchers’ mistakes and looking like one of the more effective signings of the offseason.
Manager Dave Roberts has been impressed with what Hernandez brings to this lineup.
“Teoscar has got a good track record,” Roberts said after Hernandez’s two home run game last week. “There’s going to be some strikeouts in there, but there’s going to be some home runs. To have him lying in the weeds in the six hole, I think adds a lot of length to our lineup. When we sort of get through the first three, four, five guys, then you’ve got a really dangerous hitter in Teoscar, it can be dangerous.”
Of course, Hernandez will strike out at times for the Dodgers, which is probably one of his biggest flaws as a hitter, but with that power, ability to drive in runs, and versatility in the outfield and the lineup, he has already shown he will be an asset to this ball club.
Hernandez also brings flair, edge, and grit to this squad which is needed, especially with a clubhouse full of guys who bring a calm and business-like approach on most nights. That can also be an X-factor for the Dodgers in addition to his offensive production.
However you slice it, Hernandez has proven to be another savvy pickup from the Dodgers front office and makes this lineup that much more dangerous.
