Despite securing a World Series title in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Dodgers have faced criticism for playoff disappointments in recent years. Their performance in the last two postseasons has been less than stellar. However, the organization responded to these setbacks with significant moves during the offseason.
Having already acquired talents like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, a team that won 100 games in the previous season seemed like a formidable dream team. But the president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, believed more could be done.
Friedman recognized that an offense featuring Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Will Smith could benefit from additional firepower. This led to the signing of Teoscar Hernandez, a 2021 All-Star, to a one-year, $23.5 million contract, further strengthening the Dodgers’ already impressive lineup. Hernandez’s decision-making process was straightforward.
“I’m hungry for winning,” Hernandez declared in an interview with Blake Harris of The Inside The Ravine Podcast. “There’s no better place than the Dodgers right now.”
Throughout his eight-year career, the 31-year-old power-hitting outfielder has only appeared in four postseason games, all with the Toronto Blue Jays. The allure of joining a perennial contender that garners both national and international attention cannot be underestimated.
For Hernandez, who opted for a short-term deal to bet on himself, the prospect of batting in a lineup surrounded by future Hall of Famers and All-Star talents all year long is a tremendous advantage. In the 2023 season, he posted a .258 batting average with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs in 160 games. While his 211 strikeouts raise concerns, the Dominican Republic native will have more opportunities to shine than ever before in this stacked roster.
Teoscar Hernandez’s hunger for victory is expected to be satisfied with numerous wins in the upcoming season, at least during the regular season.
This restructured version aims to maintain the same information and tone while presenting it in a distinct format.