Free-agent infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican utility man began the 2023 season with the Boston Red Sox before finishing the year in LA. In total, he hit .237/.289/.357 with 11 home runs, 23 doubles, 61 RBI, four stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 140 games played. He'll basically take the place of Manuel Margot, who was traded to the Minnesota Twins on Monday, as a reserve outfielder for the Dodgers in 2024. But Hernandez can also fill in where needed on the infield. Although he had double-hernia surgery last October, he's expected to be ready for Opening Day. Because Hernandez won't be an everyday player on a stacked Dodgers roster, he shouldn't attract much attention in mixed fantasy leagues this year.
Enrique Hernandez Is Gaining Interest From The Angels
Free-agent utility man Enrique Hernandez is drawing interest from the Los Angeles Angels, according to Ken Rosenthal. The veteran infielder had surgery to repair a double hernia back in October, so the market has been slow to show interest in him. He would fit in nicely with the Angels' lineup, as he can play all over the infield and can hit out of the top of the order. He hit .237/.289/.357 with 11 home runs, 61 RBI, and four stolen bases in 465 at-bats over 140 games between the Red Sox and the Dodgers last season. While he is coming off a down year, he still offers plenty of value to a big-league club due to his versatility.
Free-agent utility man Enrique Hernandez (hernia) underwent double-hernia surgery on Oct. 24 and is expected to resume baseball activities in three to four weeks. His condition helps explain why he wasn't the same both offensively and defensively for the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. Hernandez's surgery was performed by Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia. In 140 total games (86 with Boston), he hit .237/.289/.357 with 11 home runs, 23 doubles, 61 RBI, four stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 508 trips to the plate. The 32-year-old's surgery could make teams hesitant to bring him aboard on a free-agent deal this offseason, so the veteran infielder/outfielder might wait until the calendar flips to 2024 to find a new team.
Enrique Hernandez Starting In Center Field For Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez is getting the nod in center field over James Outman on Wednesday in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. Hernandez will hit seventh in the batting order. It will be the 32-year-old veteran's first start of this postseason for the Blue as they look to stave off elimination in the best-of-five series. Hernandez did have four plate appearances in the first two games against Arizona, getting one hit and driving in one off the bench on Monday. In five at-bats against Pfaadt during the regular season, Hernandez had a double and a home run.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez was right in the middle of the team's 9-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, two RBI, two runs scored and a strikeout. Hernandez's home run was his first since Aug. 7, and he's now hitting .296 (24-for-81) with two homers, 10 doubles, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored in 25 games (21 starts) since being traded back to the Dodgers on July 26. The 32-year-old veteran utility man continues to play every day and has seen his fantasy value boosted with the move to a better lineup in LA. On the year as a whole, he's batting .238/.294/.357 with eight homers, 46 RBI, three stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 378 at-bats with the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox.
Enrique Hernandez Starting For The Dodgers Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Enrique Hernandez is starting at second base and hitting sixth Wednesday afternoon against the Blue Jays and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. The Dodgers brought the versatile Hernandez back in a trade with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and will immediately plug him into the starting lineup against a left-handed pitcher. The 31-year-old has been one of the worst hitters in baseball this season as he's hitting just .222 with six homers, three steals, and a .599 OPS in 86 games while his 60 wRC+ ranks 142nd of 143 qualified hitters. However, he provided the Dodgers with some pop and defensive versatility for parts of seven seasons, specializing in clobbering left-handed pitching.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, according to sources. It's unclear what the Dodgers are sending Boston in return. Hernandez will return to the Dodgers after playing for the team from 2015-2020. He has spent the last two-plus seasons in Beantown, hitting .234/.308/.382 with 32 home runs, 136 RBI, four stolen bases and 170 runs scored. The 31-year-old veteran will give the Dodgers yet another utility player that can bounce around between the infield and outfield as they play the matchups. In 86 games this year for the Red Sox, Hernandez has hit .222 (66-for-297) with six homers, 11 doubles, 31 RBI, three steals and 38 runs in 323 plate appearances. He figures to lose some fantasy appeal on a more crowded roster in LA.
Enrique Hernandez To Play Center Field Against Lefties
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder/infielder Enrique Hernandez will play center field against left-handed pitchers, and his role is to be determined against right-handers. Against Tampa Bay Rays lefty Shane McClanahan on Monday, Hernandez is in center field and is batting sixth. Pablo Reyes is at shortstop and is hitting seventh, while Christian Arroyo is at the keystone and batting in the nine-hole. The 31-year-old Hernandez has struggled on defense at the 6 with 13 throwing errors, so it seems the Red Sox would rather move him back to the outfield at this point. With his everyday playing time now in question, Hernandez is losing what little fantasy value he had left. Through 189 at-bats in 2023, he's hitting just .233 with five home runs, 23 RBI and two stolen bases.
Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez (hamstring) is back at shortstop and is hitting sixth in the lineup on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners and left-hander Marco Gonzales. Hernandez missed the previous three games with a strained left hamstring, but he'll be available to fantasy managers once again on Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran's return pushes infielder Pablo Reyes to the keystone. Hernandez is hitting only .234 (33-for-141) on the year with seven doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI and 21 runs scored in 38 games. He's also hitting just .220 (9-for-41) with two doubles, one homer and four RBI in 48 trips to the plate against left-handed pitchers in 2023.
Enrique Hernandez Day-To-Day With Hamstring Injury
Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez (hamstring) is day-to-day with a left-hamstring injury that he suffered on Saturday when he grounded into a double play. Hernandez will start on the bench for the second day in a row on Monday due to his hamstring strain, so fantasy managers will need to put the 31-year-old utility man on their benches against the Seattle Mariners. If Kike cannot get back into action in a few days, he'll likely require a trip to the injured list. Seeing most of his time at the 6 so far in 2023, Hernandez is hitting just .234 (33-for-141) with seven doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI and 21 runs in 38 games. Pablo Reyes is starting at short on Monday and is hitting seventh against Seattle right-hander George Kirby.
