Alright, you won’t believe what’s happening out in LA. Remember how the Dodgers decided *not* to bring up another outfielder when rosters expanded on September 1? And then they even sent Alek Thomas down to the minors? Yeah, manager Dave Roberts straight up said they were making a “bet on Teo,” banking on Teoscar Hernández to “right the ship.” And guess what? That bet is paying off, big time.
Teo’s Heater: Old Swing, New Results
Because right now, Teoscar is absolutely on fire. We’re talking a go-ahead home run against Detroit on August 30, and then just going off during the first week of their homestand. Look at his last seven games: a ridiculous 11 hits in 26 at-bats, which is a screaming .423 average! Plus, he’s got a homer, three doubles, four walks, and piled up eight RBI. The dude is just crushing everything. Since last Sunday, 14 of his 21 batted balls were hard-hit, with 13 of those clocking over 100 mph exit velocity. That’s no fluke, my friends. This is a guy who found his groove again.
What’s the secret? Turns out, Teoscar found his old swing. The one he used in 2024 and at the start of 2025 that was pure money. He had to ditch it when injuries, like a hamstring issue this year and a leg injury last year, made it tough to execute. He told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register he was “feeling it in his injured leg” and “had to get rid of it because it was putting so much pressure on the hamstring.” But now he’s healthier, he’s back to what works, and it’s a difference-maker.
Prospect Debate: To Call Up, Or Not To Call Up?
But wait, there’s more brewing in LA’s system. Over in their “Down on the Farm” newsletter, Owen Riley and Maxfield Lane were digging into who got called up and who didn’t. They specifically looked at James Tibbs, who isn’t Rule 5 eligible this December, and top prospect Josue De Paula, who definitely is. Despite De Paula’s defensive shortcomings, both of them were pushing for the Dodgers to call up the 21-year-old straight from Double-A Tulsa. Riley’s argument is crystal clear: “De Paula is too good for Double-A; he’s doing everything right with no red flags and very impressive contact metrics for a guy who is also blasting home runs at a 30+ per season pace.” He even goes as far as saying the Dodgers lineup wouldn’t look better with Enrique Hernandez in it against lefties than it would with De Paula.
Riley sees De Paula as a “top half” potential addition, especially come October. He admits it’s a “high-risk, high-reward play,” but one that could be a serious “difference maker” in the playoffs. It’s wild to think they’d leave that kind of power sitting in Double-A when the stakes are highest.
So, while Teoscar Hernández is proving Roberts’ gamble right, there’s still a buzzing debate about what’s happening down on the farm. And just when you thought things couldn’t get more interesting, Kevin Baxter over at the LA Times reported that Dodgers chairman and owner Mark Walter is currently under federal investigation for his insurance. Talk about a curveball! What happens next for the Dodgers, on and off the field, is gonna be wild to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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