As Teoscar Hernandez gears up for his third season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, fans are eager to see if he can recapture the magic of his standout 2024 performance. That year, Hernandez posted a .272 batting average, a .339 on-base percentage, and an impressive .840 OPS, along with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs.
However, his second year saw a dip in those numbers, with a .247 average, a .284 on-base percentage, and a .739 OPS. Despite still managing 25 home runs and 89 RBIs, it was clear something was amiss.
The culprit? A nagging groin injury that seemed to hold him back.
Hernandez himself acknowledged the struggle, telling The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, "I wasn't moving the way I know I can move." That groin injury sidelined him for two weeks in May, but even after returning, he "never really felt right."
Now at 33, Hernandez has used the offseason wisely, focusing on getting back to full health. Training in the humid Caribbean, he shed 10 pounds, returning to his optimal playing weight of 204 pounds.
Despite his struggles during the regular season, Hernandez turned it up in the postseason, proving his resilience and talent. He smashed five home runs and drove in 13 RBIs over 17 games, helping propel the Dodgers to their second consecutive World Series.
As he enters the final season of his three-year, $66 million contract, Hernandez is set on making a statement. With the Dodgers eyeing a third straight World Series title, his return to form could be a pivotal factor in their continued success.