Kiké Hernández: Dave Roberts Explains Role Following Trade
Kiké Hernández is back in a Dodger uniform. What should Dodger fans expect from Kike now that he’s back? Well, there won’t be any questions about what his role will be because Dave Roberts answered those questions pretty clearly.
Don’t click the link on the quote. It’s from The Athletic and behind a paywall. I’ll tell you the details as always. Just required to list the source.
“It’s going to be very clear, his role on the ballclub,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the trade was made, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, who noted Hernández will play against left-handed pitching.
#dodgers manager Dave Roberts talks about Kike Hernández returning to #LosAngeles #MLBTradeDeadline #mlb pic.twitter.com/nJLPHbMFYp
— claudia gestro (@claudiagestro) July 25, 2023
Well, there you have it. Go be a lefty killer, Kike! As I mentioned in the trade post, the Puerto Rican native sports a batting line of .260/.314/.338 in 2023 against lefties but sports a career mark of .259/.346/.465 against southpaws. Jason Heyward and David Peralta are both candidates to sit when a lefty in on the mound in favor of Hernandez.
The Dodgers obviously know Kike well. He spent six seasons with the Dodgers including the COVID championship season in 2020. Kike will fill that swiss army knife role by getting infield and outfield reps. Just mostly against lefties. Kike could play some second base to help cover for the lost innings after Gavin Lux tore his ACL.
The Dodgers gave up two depth pitching arms to get the deal done. It seems like a pretty low risk move by LA, but Boston’s president of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom seems pretty happy with the return.
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