Teoscar Hernández is absolutely annihilating the baseball this September, ripping his way out of a months-long spiral at the plate and injecting a much-needed shot of life into the Dodgers’ offense. It’s exactly what they need with All-Stars Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages sidelined, Freddie Freeman battling knee soreness, and the playoffs just weeks away.
From Sullen Struggles To Superstar Stats
Man, it was rough for a while there. For much of the summer, Hernández, usually the fun-loving, seed-tossing veteran presence, just couldn’t catch a break. He told us himself, “I try to stay positive and bring the same energy that you guys know and see everyday , smiling, making jokes. But at the same time, it’s really hard.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts definitely noticed, too. He said some of the joy got “sucked out” because it’s impossible to be happy when you’re not performing, even if you’re still a great teammate. And trust me, the numbers backed it up.
Hernández started the season respectable, hitting a .785 OPS before landing on the injured list May 29 with a left hamstring strain. That was a gut punch, right? When he came back a month later, it just wasn’t the same guy. From June 29 to August 29, his OPS cratered to a brutal .592 , that was the ninth-lowest among ALL qualified MLB hitters in that stretch! It was hard to watch, especially since the Dodgers were also getting nada from their other corner outfielder, Kyle Tucker, and the whole offense looked dead in the water for most of the summer. This dude, who helped them win back-to-back World Series titles with his clutch hitting, was just not himself.
This September Surge Is Absolutely BONKERS
But holy cow, what a flip-the-switch moment September has been! Hernández is taking all that summer frustration and just letting it loose on every single pitch. Dodgers infielder Tommy Edman nailed it when he said, “When he catches fire, he’s as good as anybody in the game.” And right now, he’s basically a human flamethrower. Seriously, even for a guy with his power, this stretch is standing out.
Every single part of his game is looking enhanced. He’s always been prone to a swing and miss, but now he’s making way better decisions at the plate. Get this: his chase rate dropped from 36.7% last month to a ridiculously good 24.8% this month. And talk about patience! His walk rate has TRIPLED from 4.3% to a whopping 15.1%. He’s not just taking pitches, he’s cutting his strikeout rate nearly in half , from 31.2% to 18.9%. That’s insane for a power guy!
And when he swings, oh boy. He’s punishing every single mistake. His hard-hit rate has absolutely skyrocketed, going from 34.5% in July, to 47.5% in August, and now a monstrous 60% this month. His average exit velocity this September is 96.6 mph, the highest of his entire career for any month. Eight of his ten hardest-hit balls this season have come in just the last two weeks, and his bat speed? It’s clocked in at 74.1 mph, the highest he’s produced in any month over the last two seasons. This isn’t just a hot streak; this is a total offensive transformation.
What This Means For The Dodgers
This kind of performance from Hernández is exactly what the Dodgers need to feel confident about their offensive depth heading into the postseason. Watching him rediscover that swagger and absolutely crush the ball is pure must-see TV. Can he keep this fire going? You bet your bottom dollar everyone in the league is watching, wondering if they can cool him off. Get ready, because if Hernández keeps this up, the Dodgers are going to be a nightmare matchup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply