Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández hopes to stay with the team long-term.
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During the Apple TV broadcast of Friday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, Hernández said he wants to be with the Dodgers for several seasons.
“It’s been great. I want to stay. I think everybody knows it,” Hernández said. “I want to be part of this team for three, four, five years, but it’s not in my hands. It has to do with the Dodgers. It’s in their hands.”
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The Dodgers lost 6-2 in the series opener with in Atlanta. After rookie right-hander Landon Knack gave up five runs in the first two innings, the Los Angeles offense couldn’t fill the hole.
Hernández was one of the few hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup that attempted to get things going for the club. In the fourth frame, the left fielder doubled and scored on an RBI single from Tommy Edman.
The left fielder recently returned to the lineup after missing multiple games. After being hit on the foot by a pitch, fans were worried Hernández would be the latest Dodger to land on the injured list.
Nevertheless, he was able to avoid an injured list stint and returned to the team during their series with the Chicago Cubs.
The Dodgers know what they have in Hernández. In July, manager Dave Roberts spoke about the left fielder’s impact on the team.
“He’s been invaluable,” Roberts told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. “A guy that can go to left field, right field, doesn’t bat an eye where he bats in the order, versus left, versus right, 1s, and 2s (top pitchers) – he doesn’t duck anyone. he’s in there. Day game after night game, he’s in there. It doesn’t matter.”
Hernández signed a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers last winter. He is slated to be one of the most popular players to enter free agency in the offseason, but it was a grueling process for the left fielder in 2023.
Hernández came off a mediocre season with the Seattle Mariners in 2023, but he sought multi-year offers from teams. The offers never came. Instead, he a signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers and deferred $8.5 million of his salary, which meant the outfielder had to perform this season.
He certainly has exceeded expectations.
The 31-year-old was the first Dodger player ever to win the Home Run Derby. Prior to the All-Star Game, Hernández recorded 19 homers and 62 RBIs.