Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernandez is doing everything he can to return, even undergoing multiple procedures in hopes of speeding up the recovery process.
Hernandez was sidelined by a sprained left elbow and was placed on the injured list in July. The fan favorite had been dealing with elbow issues for over a month, but did not inform manager Dave Roberts until an IL stint was necessary.
Initially, Hernandez was expected to return shortly after the All-Star Break, but the 33-year-old has not resumed any baseball activities. Roberts revealed the latest update on Hernandez, saying he had “a couple little (non-surgical) procedures … just trying to move things along.”
Nevertheless, Hernandez is expected to return at some point this season, but there seems to be a lot of ambiguity surrounding the situation.
“He’s frustrated,” Roberts said. “I don’t have a timeline but expect him to be back this year.”
The Dodgers have several position players on the IL with Max Muncy and Hyeseong Kim also dealing with injuries. That leaves the Dodgers with limited depth options, however, the team acquired outfielder Alex Call ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
Call can play all three outfield spots, so he certainly can help the Dodgers if Michael Conforto, Andy Pages, or Teoscar Hernandez can’t play.
The beauty of Hernandez is his ability to play practically anywhere. The utility man has played in the outfield, infield and has pitched in relief for the Dodgers this season.
When Muncy landed on the IL at the beginning of July with a knee injury, the Dodgers planned on splitting starts between Hernandez and Miguel Rojas at the hot corner against left-handed pitchers. However, those plans quickly changed once Hernandez and Kim were both sidelined.
Hernandez hasn’t had a strong year at the plate in 2025, hitting .195 with with eight home runs, 22 runs batted in, and an OPS of .626 this season. However, the fan favorite has earned a reputation for coming alive in October.
The hope is that Hernandez returns as the Dodgers are in the midst of a tight division race with the San Diego Padres just a few games behind for first place.
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Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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