Teoscar Hernandez's bat has caught fire at the right time for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left fielder is slashing .405/.500/.667 with a 1.167 OPS, two home runs and 14 RBI in 12 games this month. He also rode a 10-game hitting streak that ended on Friday.
The Dodgers need Hernandez to continue this type of production after the team placed superstar Shohei Ohtani on the IL due to knee and biceps injuries. Freddie Freeman's knee is also banged up and Andy Pages is still on the IL with a fractured left hand. These injury issues make Hernandez's bat that much more important to the Dodgers.
Why the Dodgers were right to bet on Teoscar Hernandez
Hernandez got off to a very slow start this season and struggled after missing a month from late May to late June with a left hamstring strain. Through the end of July, Hernandez was hitting just .248/.319/.395. Hernandez was also named as a potential trade candidate ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. But given his recent hot streak, that buzz is nothing more than a distant memory.
He's been on a tear over his last 30 games. This has brought his numbers on the season up to: .265/.333/.424 with a .758 OPS, 14 homers and 60 RBI in 113 games. He's also crushing it at the plate with runners in scoring position, slashing .300/.392/.500 with an .892 OPS, five homers and 46 RBI.
Since the All-Star break, Hernandez has looked like himself. In 50 games, he's batting .293/.353/.471 with a .824 OPS, six homers and 24 RBI.
Postseason contributions from Teoscar Hernandez will be huge for Dodgers
Hernandez helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2024 while playing on a one-year deal. The team then re-signed him to a three-year, $66 million contract in the offseason that followed. Hernandez didn't have his best campaign in 2025, but still hit 25 homers and drove in 89 RBI. And when the postseason came around, Hernandez stepped up with five homers, 13 RBI and a .789 OPS. He once again helped the Dodgers capture a World Series title for the second straight year.
The Dodgers are hoping that Hernandez's bat stays hot and carries over into postseason play. If the veteran slugger can keep things going, he should play a big role in the Dodgers' chances of pulling off a three-peat.
As a result of his recent stretch, the Dodgers were correct to bet on Hernandez still being a key part of their championship aspirations. Given what he has shown at the plate, Hernandez is set up for another successful postseason.
