The Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning to fulfill the potential predicted for them going into the 2024 season. The team has won eight of its last 10 games. One of those eight wins came on Saturday against the Padres, and first-year Dodger Teoscar Hernández is a big reason why the team pulled out the win.
Hernández knocked a grand slam to left field that went for 390 feet to bring in Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, and Max Muncy. It was the instant knockout punch the Dodgers needed — and didn’t always get early in the season — from the middle of their lineup. Hernandez’s fourth career grand slam (and first as a Dodger) marked just the latest occasion on which he’s lifted the team to victory with one swing.
Hernández has been brilliant thus far through 41 games. That’s due, at least in part, to his love of being in Los Angeles.
The Dominican Republic native spoke to the media after Saturday’s game, including the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett, and said his grand slam in the sixth inning is precisely why he signed with Los Angeles in January.
“When I signed here, I knew this was gonna happen,” Hernández said. “You have Mookie, Freddie, Ohtani, Will and Muncy, those guys take a lot of walks. I knew I was going to hit behind them and I was going to have a lot of opportunities with men in scoring position or men on base.”
— Teoscar Hernández, via Orange Couty Register
Dodgers reporter Kirsten Watson also caught up with Hernández. He said he’s happy to finally play with a contender and play a vital role with the team.
“This is what I dream for. I’m finally here, playing for a good team, with a good rivalry.”
The nine-year veteran is having one heck of a season in Los Angeles. Through 41 games and 155 at-bats, he is slashing .258/.324/.510 with a .833 OPS. His 11 home runs in the year are tied for fourth in the majors, and his 33 RBIs are tied for second in the majors.
Hernández is not only a key part of this Dodger team, but he could be their best slugger on any given night. The former All-Star is a two-time Silver Slugger and could hold his own against the best this league offers.
Over parts of eight seasons in the American League, Hernández never played a postseason game beyond the wild-card round. Now he can see dream of a longer October run, and there’s no doubt he is gravitating towards the city and the fans of Los Angeles.
