Kiké Hernández found himself struggling at the plate last season, batting just .191 with 45 strikeouts in the first half. But looked like a completely different player after the All-Star break.
His secret? A new pair of glasses.
The Los Angeles Dodgers infielder revealed in August he was diagnosed with astigmatism in his right eye. He began to see the ball better and became a reliable hitter after he began to wear glasses during games.
“Kind of saved my saved my season. Who knows if it saved my career,” Hernández said on the “Dodgers Territory” podcast. “There’s a chance that I was a couple days away from getting DFA’d last year. ... Being able to do the hardest thing that there is in all sports — which is hitting a baseball — when you can’t really see the spin of the ball is a pretty hard thing to do. But I’m glad we have that resolved for now, and I’m looking forward to a full season of being healthy, feeling strong and being able to see.“
Hernández, who spent three seasons with the Boston Red Sox, re-signed with the Dodgers in February. The 33-year-old spent the last two seasons in LA — his second stint with the team — after the Red Sox traded him to the Dodgers in 2023.
He helped Los Angeles win the World Series when he batted .278 with five hits (one triple) and three runs in the five-game series against the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers signed Hyeseong Kim, leading to thoughts that a reunion with Hernández would be difficult. But Hernández is well-liked among the team and the fans, and there’s no doubt he brings plenty of energy to the clubhouse.
