Teoscar Hernández is looking to turn the page after a challenging season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where his performance dipped both offensively and defensively.
Last year, Hernández posted a .247/.284/.454 slash line, with 29 doubles, 25 home runs, and 89 RBIs over 134 games. This marked a noticeable decline from his impressive debut season with the Dodgers, where he boasted an .840 OPS. Defensively, his mobility issues in right field allowed runners to capitalize, exposing some vulnerabilities.
Reflecting on his performance, Hernández acknowledged, “I wasn’t moving the way I know I can move.” A strained left groin, sustained in May, played a significant role in his struggles.
Although he only missed two weeks, the injury lingered, affecting his play. “I was fighting through it,” Hernández admitted.
“I just wanted to be on the field and trying to help the team.”
Determined to rebound in 2026, Hernández revamped his offseason routine. By cleaning up his diet and shedding 10 pounds, thanks in part to the Caribbean humidity, he returned to his usual 204 pounds.
With his groin fully healed, he aims for a comeback season. Encouragingly, he showed flashes of his potential during the postseason, hitting five home runs and driving in 13 runs over 17 games.
In a strategic move, Hernández will shift back to left field following the Dodgers’ acquisition of Kyle Tucker. Despite not being forewarned about the position change, Hernández embraced it positively.
Manager Dave Roberts shared, “We made the sign, and then I ended up reaching out to Teo and said, ‘This is what’s going to happen.’ And he gave me a big thumbs up, and he’ll be ready to go.”
This transition highlights the Dodgers' team-first mentality, as Roberts noted, “If winning is the most important thing, then it doesn’t matter the role, the position, and guys just have bought in.” With a renewed focus and a fresh start in left field, Hernández is poised to make a significant impact this season.