Miguel Rojas Confident Kiké Hernández Will Return to Dodgers Despite Injury Setback
As the Dodgers continue to fine-tune their roster ahead of the 2026 season, one familiar name remains unsigned - but not forgotten. Veteran utility man Kiké Hernández is still a free agent, but if you ask Miguel Rojas, it’s not a matter of if Hernández returns to Los Angeles - it’s when.
“I’m in constant communication with Kiké,” Rojas said recently. “I have no doubt that he’s gonna be back. Everybody in this clubhouse wants him back.”
That kind of confidence doesn’t come lightly, especially from a respected voice like Rojas. He’s not just speculating - he’s speaking from a place of connection, both personal and professional. Hernández, a beloved figure in the Dodgers clubhouse and a fan favorite across L.A., has been a glue guy for years - the kind of player whose impact goes well beyond the box score.
But there’s a reason the Dodgers haven’t made a move yet. According to Rojas, it’s tied to Hernández’s health.
“It definitely has something to do with his injury and the stuff that he’s going through right now,” Rojas explained. “He’s not gonna be ready until a couple months into the season, but I’m crossing my fingers and keeping the hope that we’re going to have Kiké because we all know how important he is - for the clubhouse, for the organization, for the fans, for the city of L.A. - and he deserves to be with us too.”
Hernández underwent surgery earlier this offseason to repair an elbow extension muscle - an injury he revealed he’d been battling since May. He played through the pain during the 2025 campaign, but the toll eventually caught up with him. The result: a delayed start to 2026 and a missed opportunity to represent his country in the World Baseball Classic.
Still, there’s no doubting his value when healthy. Hernández has built a legacy in Dodger blue, and it’s one worth remembering.
He first arrived in L.A. via trade from the Miami Marlins ahead of the 2015 season, and over the next six years, he became a key cog in a team that reached the pinnacle in 2020 with a World Series title. After that championship run, Hernández tested free agency and landed in Boston, where he spent parts of three seasons before being traded back to the Dodgers in 2023.
Since returning, he’s added two more rings to his collection and continued to provide the kind of versatility and spark that’s become his trademark. Over nine total seasons in Los Angeles, Hernández has launched 95 home runs, driven in 320 runs, and posted a .713 OPS - all while playing just about every position on the diamond.
Now 34, Hernández isn’t quite ready to close the book on his Dodgers career. And based on what Rojas is saying, neither are his teammates.
Should L.A. bring him back - and there’s plenty of belief in the clubhouse that they will - Hernández would rejoin a roster with its eyes set on history: the first three-peat in franchise history. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that postseason runs often hinge on guys like Kiké - the ones who bring energy, experience, and a knack for delivering in the biggest moments.
The Dodgers know what they have in Hernández. And if the timing and health align, don’t be surprised if No. 14 is back in Dodger blue before long.