Kiké Hernández caught a brutal break just two games into his season. After spending the winter and most of spring training recovering from offseason surgery, he finally got back on the field for the Dodgers. Then his oblique gave out. IL stint. Again.
But here’s the thing — the early returns on his recovery are better than anyone expected.
The Athletic’s Katie Woo reported this week that Hernández is trending ahead of schedule. Initially there was some concern he could miss up to 12 weeks. Now the team is cautiously optimistic it’ll be closer to the eight-week minimum projection. That’s a significant swing for a guy who was supposed to be a key piece of the Dodgers’ infield and outfield rotation.
Why his timeline matters
Hernández is the kind of player who doesn’t always show up in the box score the way a star does, but his absence creates a ripple effect. The Dodgers have had to get creative without him. Tommy Edman has bounced around to multiple spots since returning from his own IL stay. Guys like Ryan Ward and Alex Call have gotten more innings than Dave Roberts probably planned on.
Santiago Espinal is getting starts too, which wasn’t really part of the original blueprint. It’s been manageable but not ideal. The depth is getting tested.
What the Dodgers really need from Kiké
Let’s be honest about what matters here. Hernández is 34 years old. He’s not the everyday star he was earlier in his career. But what he does well — play just about any position, pinch hit in a big spot, handle the moment — becomes way more valuable in October. He and Miguel Rojas were both starting in the 2025 postseason, Hernández in left field and Rojas at second base. That’s not nothing.
If the Dodgers can get him back by September, get him some at-bats to knock the rust off, and have him ready for the playoffs, that’s the whole goal. The regular season is about surviving these stretches. The postseason is where Kiké Hernández makes his money.
So far the oblique is cooperating. Eight weeks from the injury date puts him back in early June. That would leave plenty of time to work back into form before the dog days of summer, let alone October.
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