Kiké Hernández reveals possible timeline to return from surgery in Dodgers surprise

The battle the Dodgers have playing out at second base has been a welcome surprise for fans, who figured that everything about LA's offense would be locked down by spring training. Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, and maybe even Santiago Espinal are all competing for the same roster spot.

It wouldn't be an issue if it weren't for Kiké Hernández's surprise surgery after the 2026 season. Even with Tommy Edman out, the Dodgers would've entrusted the interim starting role to their favorite utility man.

Hernández underwent surgery on his left elbow to treat discomfort that he said he'd been playing through most of 2025 (he missed a large chunk of time between July and August with elbow inflammation), and won't participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team Puerto Rico because of it.

The Dodgers haven't offered a concrete timeline to return — they seldom do — but, true to form, Hernández took that into his own hands. He said during Wednesday's ESPN broadcast that he's targeting May 24 for a return, the day he's eligible to come off of the 60-day IL.

Kiké Hernández offers concrete timeline (and date) for return to Dodgers after elbow surgery

Edman's timeline is still completely unknown, even though he was out of a boot and taking dry swings in early February. The Dodgers are still operating off of the assumption that he won't be ready by Opening Day, though.

Hernández's return was also a mystery until he laid it out in no uncertain terms. Will it actually end up happening? We're skeptical. Last year, Michael Kopech said he was ready to come off of the IL after his second stint on the 60-day, only to go right back onto it less than two weeks later and miss the postseason (he still doesn't have a home for the 2026 season).

Hernández has never really steered fans wrong, though. He's come back to the Dodgers multiple times out of free agency, even when he had other options, and he has a knack for coming through when they need him most.

Dodgers fans still want to see Kim or Freeland succeed and get more playing time than they were afforded last season, but Hernández being back restores depth to every single part of the roster on the offensive side, and it means the Dodgers have their glue guy back in the clubhouse.