Going into the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers had a tough call on their hands with one of their 2025 free agents.
As the calendar turns to August that decision is becoming easier.
On Thursday, the Dodgers announced outfielder Teoscar Hernandez as the winner of the Heart & Hustle Award given out by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. That award is given to one player from each team who "demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game." One overall winner will be chosen in mid-November.
All those qualities help make the case for why Hernandez has to be back with LA next season.
The Dodgers signed Hernandez to a one-year deal worth $23.5 million this offseason. He responded by making the National League All-Star team, winning the Home Run Derby , and coming through with multiple game-winning hits for LA in the first half of the season.
It wasn't a slam-dunk signing for LA at first. Hernandez, as a 30-year-old last season, saw a steep dip in his numbers across the board with Seattle.
This year he has bounced back to fit in well with a loaded Dodgers lineup.
The most encouraging part of his season is that his numbers aren't outlandish. They're good, to be sure, but they're mostly near his career marks. That provides optimism that he can continue playing at an All-Star level beyond the 2024 season.
His peripheral numbers are all trending the correct way as well. His strikeouts are down from last season. His walk rate is up. His home run rate is also up. All three of those numbers now sit at or near his career numbers.
A deeper dive shows some room for potential improvement. Hernandez has changed his approach this season to pull the ball at nearly a career-low rate. He's also hitting to the opposite field more often than ever. Hernandez is also hitting the ball on the ground at a dramatically higher clip than he ever has.
All those tell the story of his dip in hard-hit rate and average exit velocity. We may see a sizable leap next season if Hernandez can hit more line drives and fewer ground balls.
That potential jump in production and his fit in the lineup are two rock-solid reasons to retain Hernandez in the offseason. His fit in the locker room to win the team's Heart & Hustle Award helps seal the case.
Teoscar Hernandez has to be a Dodger in 2025 and beyond.
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