Teoscar Hernández finally admits to 2025 injury that spurred Dodgers trade rumors

Teoscar Hernández had the season of his life in 2024. A .501 OPS, 135 OPS+, 33 homers, 99 RBI. A Home Run Derby championship, an All-Star nod, a Silver Slugger, and MVP votes. Re-signing him on a longer-term deal for 2025 and beyond was a no-brainer for the Dodgers.

But Hernández didn't live up to expectations in the first year of his new deal, and in fact had his worst offensive season since 2019. And when the bat lagged, it made Dodgers fans all-too aware of his other flaws. Hernández has never played good defense, but multiple gaffes in right field had some going as far as to say that the Dodgers wouldn't win the World Series with Hernández there.

He spent a short stint on the IL with a groin strain but was back after less than two weeks. Healthy, maybe, but he still posted the lowest OPS of his career in a full season (.738).

At spring training, Hernández was finally able to admit to health- or injury-related shortcomings in 2025. He acknowledged that something about the strain "never really felt right."

Over the offseason, he reportedly "cleaned up his diet," dropped 10 pounds, and was being more cognizant of the need for rest.

Teoscar Hernández tried to diagnose issues that led to an underwhelming 2025 season for Dodgers

The disappointing season led to a surprising development during the offseason: serious trade rumors. Hernández didn't deny that he knew that there were whispers floating around — the Royals were even named as a suitor at one point — and was a pro about it.

"Obviously, I don't want to go. But if they feel they can be a better team, they're going to do it," he said. "As much as I like to be here, for them it has the business side of it, and if they feel they can be better trading me and getting somebody else, they're going to do it."

Of course, nothing actually happened and Hernández stayed put, but the fact that the Dodgers even considered it wasn't exactly a vote of confidence in him.

With Kyle Tucker's addition, Hernández will shuffle down a spot in the order and move over to left field, both of which are developments that should be good for him and alleviate some pressure on both sides of the ball.

There's far less certainty that Hernández will be able to bounce back as efficiently as Mookie Betts is expected to, but we're all rooting for Teo.