{"id":654855,"date":"2026-03-14T10:32:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T10:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/654855\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T10:32:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T10:32:25","slug":"bigger-than-baseball-why-being-in-puerto-rico-for-wbc-meant-so-much-to-kike-hernandez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/654855\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Bigger than baseball.’ Why being in Puerto Rico for WBC meant so much to Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez"},"content":{"rendered":"

A three-time World Series<\/a> champion, Dodgers<\/a> utilityman Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a> has had his fair share of clutch hits, home runs and game-saving, series-defining<\/a> moments that will forever be etched in baseball lore.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, however, he witnessed something new.<\/p>\n

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On March 7, hours after Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies hit the first walk-off home run in World Baseball Classic<\/a> history to power Team Netherlands past Nicaragua in Miami, Athletics prospect Darell Hernaiz delivered a game-winning blast of his own to lift Team Puerto Rico over Panama in extra innings in San Juan, Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez stormed out of the dugout at Hiram Bithorn Stadium alongside his teammates to greet Hernaiz at home plate and celebrate the monumental moon shot.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/b> Blake Snell throws first bullpen session of spring training, taking key step forward<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere had never been a walk-off homer in the history of the WBC, and we [got] to see two in the same day, which was pretty cool,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said at his clubhouse stall at Camelback Ranch. \u201cFor me personally, I was running to home plate, conscious that I wasn\u2019t necessarily part of the team so I couldn\u2019t run laps around home plate, like I did on Freddie [Freeman\u2019s] walk-off homers [in the World Series], but it\u2019s still up there as one of those really cool moments that I\u2019ll always remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Unable to participate in this year\u2019s WBC as he recovers from offseason left elbow surgery, Hern\u00e1ndez left Dodgers camp to spend the first leg of the tournament with Team Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got to experience it in a different way this year,\u201d said Hern\u00e1ndez, who has played twice in the WBC. \u201cI was just kind of there as a fan, almost in like a coaching role. I get a lot more nervous when I\u2019m not playing, because I really don\u2019t have any power over it. I don\u2019t have any control over what\u2019s going on, so it was pretty nerve-wracking.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cObviously, seeing that stadium packed out was pretty special. And of course, I\u2019m still bummed that I don\u2019t get to be a part of it, but I still support my people, and I\u2019m still hoping they can win.\u201d<\/p>\n

During a Team Puerto Rico news conference last week, Hern\u00e1ndez told reporters in Spanish<\/a> that the WBC rates above the World Series. Hern\u00e1ndez, who’s played in five World Series, elaborated on his statement.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI said it feels bigger,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said. \u201cI didn\u2019t say it\u2019s bigger. Atmosphere, crowd, you\u2019re representing your country. You\u2019re not representing a city. You don\u2019t always choose who you play for. Sometimes that\u2019s out of your control and you know, when you\u2019re representing your country, you\u2019re playing along with your homies. Sometimes you\u2019re playing along with people that you grew up with. Your people back home are rooting for you, at times.<\/p>\n

“You\u2019re playing in the United States, you\u2019re playing for different teams, and sometimes they\u2019re rooting against you. And for us, coming from our little island, the things that we can do for our island while the tournament is going on, it becomes a lot bigger than baseball, to where, it does not always feel that way when you\u2019re playing for an organization in Major League Baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez will be in Houston for Puerto Rico\u2019s quarterfinal game against Italy on Saturday, and he said he doesn\u2019t know if he would go to Miami if Puerto Rico reached the semifinals.<\/p>\n

“I haven’t had the conversation yet with Andrew,” Hern\u00e1ndez said, referring to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman<\/a>. “I only asked permission to go to Houston. We win in Houston, he might get another text message if I can go along for the ride, but haven’t decided yet.”<\/p>\n

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Read more:<\/b> Dodgers prospect James Tibbs III attempts to show staying power after multiple trades<\/a><\/p>\n

As for his rehab from surgery, Hern\u00e1ndez said he’s progressing rapidly and hopes to return in late May, when his 60-day IL stint expires.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not surprised that it\u2019s going well,\u201d Dodgers manager Dave Roberts<\/a> said. \u201cEnd of May, beginning of June is probably a safe bet. Something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kyle Tucker hits first home run in Cactus League play<\/p>\n

Dodgers left fielder Kyle Tucker<\/a> hit his first home run of spring training to lead off the sixth inning of Friday’s 10-7 win over the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. Tucker also walked twice and scored twice as the Dodgers also got homers from Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez and James Tibbs III<\/a>, his third of the spring.<\/p>\n

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“Man, it’s just fun to watch him compete in the batter’s box,” Roberts said of Tucker.<\/p>\n

Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol continue build-up<\/p>\n

Injured relief pitchers Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol are progressing in their respective rehabs, Roberts said before Friday’s game. Phillips is recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Graterol is working his way back from right shoulder surgery. Graterol hasn\u2019t pitched in a game since the 2024 World Series.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI think [Phillips had] a pen today. It\u2019s a short ten to fifteen-pitch pen, but it\u2019s good effort, and he\u2019s trending in the right direction. I think that with Evan, with some other guys that are continuing to build up, Graterol is another one, just continuing to build up, so they\u2019re in their progression, but they\u2019re still a ways away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.<\/a><\/p>\n

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n