Enrique Hernández (baseball)

Enrique Hernández
Hernández with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 14
Utility player
Born: (1991-08-24) August 24, 1991
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 1, 2014, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Batting average .242
Home runs 50
Runs batted in 144
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Puerto Rico
World Baseball Classic
2017 Los AngelesNational team

Enrique Javier Hernández (born August 24, 1991)[1] is a Puerto Rican professional baseball utility player for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins. His nickname is Kike (/ˈkiːkeɪ/ KEE-kay),[2][3] sometimes spelled Kiké during English-language television broadcasts to prevent it from being confused with a derogatory slur that has a different pronunciation.[4] While he is most experienced as an outfielder, he has played every position except catcher.[5]

Early life

Hernández is the eldest child of Enrique Hernández Sr., a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and his wife Mónica González, owner of a boutique in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.[6] His mother is Cuban.[7] He has two younger sisters.[8] He began playing baseball at age six, and participated in International youth tournaments in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.[6]

Amateur career

Hernández attended high school at the American Military Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.[1] Though he was only 5 foot 6 inches tall in his junior year, he grew five inches in his senior year.[8] He and Geovany Soto are the only MLB player to be drafted out of the American Military Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.[5]

Professional career

Houston Astros

Hernández with the Houston Astros in 2014 (left) and their triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City RedHawks (right)

The Houston Astros drafted Hernández in the sixth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He earned a $150,000 signing bonus.[1] In 2009, he played primarily second base and third base, and in 2010, he played exclusively second base.[9]

He was called up to the majors for the first time on July 1, 2014.[10] He made his major league debut the same day, entering a game against the Seattle Mariners as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and collecting two hits, the first of which was a ground rule double in his first at-bat off Dominic Leone of the Mariners.[11] He hit his first home run the following day off Chris Young of the Mariners.[12] In 24 games, he hit .284 for the Astros.[13]

Miami Marlins

On July 31, 2014, the Astros traded Hernández, Jarred Cosart, and Austin Wates to the Miami Marlins for Jake Marisnick, Colin Moran, Francis Martes, and a compensatory draft pick.[14][15] Playing for the Marlins on September 26, 2014, Hernández hit a ninth-inning grand slam off Craig Stammen of the Washington Nationals for his first career grand slam in the major leagues. Overall, Hernández appeared in 18 games for the Marlins and batted .175 (seven hits in 40 at bats).[13]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Hernandez with the 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers

2015

On December 10, 2014, Hernández was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Chris Hatcher, Austin Barnes, and Andrew Heaney, in exchange for Dan Haren, Dee Gordon, Miguel Rojas, and cash.[16] He was assigned to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers[17] and was recalled by the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 28, 2015.[18] He was used all over the field, with 20 games at second base, 19 in center field, 17 in left field, 16 at shortstop, 2 in right field and one at third base.[13] In August, Hernández replaced a slumping Joc Pederson as the primary starting center fielder,[19] though he missed much of September with a hamstring strain.[20] He played in 76 games for the team in 2015, with a .307 batting average, seven homers and 22 RBI.[13] During the season, he was known for his sense of humor and for wearing a banana suit in the dugout during games where he was not playing.[21]

2016

In 2016, Hernández was less effective, hitting only .190 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 109 games.[22] He was left off the roster for the first round of the playoffs and was hitless in eight at-bats in the 2016 National League Championship Series.[13]

2017

In 2017, he batted .215/.308/.421 in 297 at bats, while playing at least one inning at every position except pitcher or catcher.[13] In the 2017 National League Division Series, he had one hit, a double, in three at-bats.[13] In the fifth game of the 2017 National League Championship Series, he hit three home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in seven runs to tie the record for most RBI in a postseason game, helping send the Dodgers to the World Series for the first time since 1988.[23] In the World Series, he had three hits in 13 at-bats (.231 average) as the Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros in seven games.[13]

2018

Hernàndez was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time after the season, and in January 2018 signed a one-year, $1.6 million, contract for 2018.[24]

On July 25, 2018, Hernández pitched in a game for the first time in his career, entering in the 16th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies and picking up the loss after walking two batters and giving up a three-run walk-off home run. He is the first position player since Babe Ruth to play in the infield, outfield and give up 3 runs or more in the same game. He is also the first position player ever to give up a walk-off home run. [25]

International career

World Baseball Classic

Hernández played for the Puerto Rican National Team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic where he won a silver medal.[26]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Enrique Hernandez Stats". Baseball Almanac. 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Coleman, David (August 19, 2010). "Astros Prospect Profile: Kikè Hernandez". crawfishboxes.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ "The New Kids in Town: A Recap in One Act". crawfishboxes.com. July 1, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ Osborne, Cary (February 5, 2015). "'Dude, smile': An introduction to Enrique 'Kiké' Hernandez". Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Price, Jimmy (29 June 2014). "Astros Future Interview: Enrique "Kike" Hernandez". House of Houston. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 Rogers, Matt (22 July 2013). "Diamond Dancer". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Weisman, Jon (25 September 2016). "Puig, Dodgers grieve over José Fernández". Dodger Insider. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  8. 1 2 Saxon, Mark (27 March 2015). "Kiké Hernandez and the vagaries of baseball life". ESPN. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ McTaggert, Brian (July 1, 2014). "Astros recall trio of Triple-A prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Cano and Seager lead Mariners over Astros 13-2". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "July 2, 2014 Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros play-by-play and box score". Baseball Reference. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Enrique Hernandez Statistics and history". Baseball Reference.
  14. ↑ Drellich, Evan (31 July 2014). "Astros ship Jarred Cosart to Marlins in 6-player deal". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  15. ↑ Grubb, Will. "Astros Trade Jarred Cosart To Miami". cbslocal.com. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  16. ↑ Gurnick, Ken (December 11, 2014). "Dodgers adding Kendrick, Rollins in trades". MLB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  17. ↑ Hoornstra, J.P. (April 7, 2015). "Revealed: Opening Day roster for Triple-A Oklahoma City". LA Daily News. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  18. ↑ Weisman, Jon (April 28, 2015). "Crawford heads to disabled list, Hernandez recalled". dodgers.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Dodgers drop Pederson from starting lineup amid slump". Fox Sports. August 23, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  20. ↑ Hoornstra, JP (September 4, 2015). "Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, Kike Hernandez may be out until playoffs". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  21. ↑ Hoornstra, JP (September 1, 2015). "Andrew Friedman sent Kiké Hernandez into the Dodgers dugout wearing his banana suit". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  22. ↑ "2016 Los Angeles Dodgers Batting, Pitching & Fielding Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  23. ↑ Moore, Tom (October 19, 2017). "NLCS Game 5 Dodgers highlights: Kiké Hernandez slams Cubs". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  24. ↑ Stephen, Eric (January 12, 2018). "Kiké Hernandez avoids arbitration with $1.6 million deal with Dodgers, per report". SB Nation. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  25. ↑ Mccullough, Andy (July 24, 2018). "The Dodgers turned to Kiké Hernandez to pitch in the 16th inning. It didn't go well". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  26. ↑ Thornburg, Chad (February 8, 2017). "Young stars join Beltran, Yadi for Puerto Rico". MLB.com. Retrieved March 14, 2017.


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