Dodgers: Kiké Hernandez Appears Primed for a Breakout Season

As the spring training season enters its final weekend, there have been a few Dodgers who have had a stellar spring training. One of those is fan favorite Enrique Hernandez.

Maybe this is just a couple of great weeks by Kiké Hernandez, or perhaps this is the start of something bigger. Perhaps this is the start of a breakout that began in game five of the National League Championship Series.  The game we will all remember for quite some time when Kiké drove the dagger into the Cubs and blasted three home runs.

Throughout his career, the motto for Hernandez has been that he crushed left-handed pitchers, especially those named Madison Bumgarner, but he struggles against right-handed pitching.  His career splits reflect this as he has a .207/.265/.324 line against righties but a much improved .270/.364/.518 line against southpaws.  Kiké also has 19 home runs against lefties compared to only nine home runs against righties.

This spring, however, Kiké has been mashing the ball regardless of which hand the pitchers are throwing from.  Hernandez has hit right-handed pitching better than left-handed pitching this spring as he has a .353 average against righties and a .273 average against lefties this spring.  All four of his spring homers have come off of righties as well.

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We will see if this is just a fluke or if Kiké is indeed headed towards a breakout season.  While Matt Kemp has gotten a lot of attention for his strong spring showing, Kiké Hernandez has performed much better than Kemp.  If Justin Turner had never gotten injured, then it is possible that Kiké would be in the conversation to start in left field.  Due to Turner’s injury, Kiké will get a chance to build on his solid spring as he will start at second base.

The Dodgers preliminary planned to platoon Hernandez and Chase Utley at second base.  While Utley will still come up clutch at various points this season, Kiké should start the majority of games at second base.  His strong spring showing has provided hopes of a breakout and Utley is already well on the downside of his career.  Kiké, on the other hand, is still young, and the Dodgers need to ride out his hot streak.

Kiké Hernandez is poised to get a lot more playing time this season.  With Corey Seager once again set to nurse an unknown elbow ailment, it is likely that Seager will get at least one game off a week.  Whether Chris Taylor plays shortstop or Kiké, the other is going to start those games in centerfield.  Chris Taylor and Logan Forsythe will also need some games off, and Hernandez is the primary fill in for their off days as well.

Next: Joc Pederson at first base?

It will not be hard for the Dodgers to find playing time for Kiké this season as he can back up just about anyone on the diamond.  If this is indeed a coming out season for Kiké Hernandez in which he can now hit right-handed pitchers, the Dodgers lineup is going to be hell on earth for pitchers no matter who has a day off.  A breakout year would also push Kiké into the starting second baseman conversation for 2019.  Now we just have to wait and see whether this spring was an anomaly or a sign of what is to come in the young career of Kiké Hernandez.