Kiké Hernández gets devastating injury news despite Dodgers' early optimism

It was an emotional scene for the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week when Kiké Hernández suffered an oblique injury two days after making his 2026 debut. As is customary for the Dodgers, there was early optimism surrounding Hernández's injury, holding out hope that he wouldn't need an extended stay on the IL. That hope was short-lived with Dave Roberts revealing on Wednesday that Hernández suffered a "significant tear" of his left oblique.

Beyond the vibe that Hernández brings for the Dodgers, the injury came at a time when he was surprisingly providing a spark for an offense that has struggled through the first two months of the season. The 34-year-old was 4-for-4 before the injury, with a home run. No, that production wasn't sustainable, but if nothing else, Hernández was expected to be a boost for the bench.

It might be a while before Dodgers fans see Kiké Hernandez again

Depending on the exact severity of the tear, it's possible that Hernández will need surgery. For severe strains, the timeline for recovery is closer to 12 weeks. If all goes well, that would place Hernández's potential return around September. Of course, this is merely speculation until LA provides further information on his status.

At the very least, it will bring back the revolving door for final spot on the Dodgers' 26-man roster.

Versatile infielder Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment when Hernández made his return from an elbow injury that kept him sidelined since the start of the season. Espinal will need to clear waivers, and will likely elect free agency once that happens. The Dodgers almost certainly will have interest in bringing him back, but the bidding will be open to every other team in baseball. Considering Tommy Edman's return is around the corner, it's possible that Espinal seeks an extended opportunity elsewhere.

In the immediate aftermath of Hernández's oblique injury, the Dodgers recalled Alex Freeland from Triple-A. Freeland went hitless in three plate appearances while playing second base for the Dodgers on Wednesday night, and it was a reminder of the struggles he had to open the season. Specifically, it was strikeouts that were causing headaches over his spot on the major league roster. Through his first 115 plate appearances, Freeland is striking out over 27% of the time.

Edman's return was already shaping up to be an important moment for the Dodgers, and the injury to Hernández only amplifies that fact further.

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