DENVER, CO — No offense to Shohei, but getting Teoscar Hernandez right before the season beagn might be the Dodgers’ biggest offseason move of the year. After a disappointing stint with the Seattle Mariners in 2023, Teoscar Hernández, the affable, sun-flower-seed-tossing Dominican, joined the Dodgers in 2024 and revitalized his career in remarkable fashion. One of the season’s most notable highlights has been Hernández setting a new career-high with 33 home runs, surpassing his previous best of 32. He set the new personal best on the second-to-last day of the season, drilling a three-run tank in the Dodgers blowout win over the Colorado Rockies.
Teo’s home run surge has provided the Dodgers with much-needed offensive firepower, particularly in a year when the team has dealt with several key injuries and roster changes. Hernández’s transition from Seattle to Los Angeles has been a tale of redemption. In 2023, while with the Mariners, Hernández struggled with inconsistency, leading to a season that many saw as underwhelming given his potential. He finished the year with 26 home runs and a .248 batting average—respectable numbers but far from the impact player Seattle hoped he would be. However, the move to the Dodgers, combined with a fresh start in a new lineup, has seen him return to his peak form…