Kike Hernandez isn’t hiding what he wants next.
After the Dodgers were knocked out on Thursday, October 15th, the veteran utility man made it plain in the clubhouse that he wants another run in Los Angeles, even as free agency opens and his future hangs in the balance.
“Every time I look at my career, I kind of obviously go back to this place. I’ve been here the longest. I hope I come back,” Hernandez said in the clubhouse.
“I feel like I have a lot left this year. I thought it was gonna be a good year for me on the personal side. I thought that once my surgery healed, I’d finally be healthy and able to play.
“And then, of course, sh** happened. But yeah, I would love to be back.
I would love to have one more try, trying to win another one. But like you said, I don’t really know what’s gonna happen.
I hope I’m back.”
That’s the crux of it now: Hernandez wants back in, but the Dodgers have decisions to make. At 35, coming off an uneven season, he sits at a crossroads as the club looks to get younger.
Still, Hernandez has been more than just another name on the roster during this run. He’s supplied clutch hits, big defensive moments, and the kind of clubhouse energy that helped define this Dodgers era. He’s also been one of the most recognizable faces of the team’s current dynasty.
There is at least a path for him to stay. If enough of the roster turns over, a veteran role could open up. Miguel Rojas retiring also improves Hernandez’s chances, though other clubs could come calling for him as a utility option.
His numbers this season were modest: a .222 average and a .671 OPS in 41 games. He should also be healthier moving forward after elbow surgery and recovery from an oblique injury.
The Dodgers will keep him on the radar, but after finishing as the league’s oldest roster and falling short, Hernandez could be swept into the broader retool.
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