Los Angeles Dodgers fans, you can breathe now.
Enrique “Kike” Hernandez, a Puerto Rico-born utility player, will be back in blue next season. The news comes from Hernandez himself, who posted a Kendrick Lamar-soundtracked video to social media on Sunday.
His return has since been confirmed by multiple reports. As of Sunday afternoon, the terms of his deal have not been revealed.
The 33-year-old became a free agent after winning the World Series with the Dodgers in October.
Hernandez was first promoted to the major leagues in 2014 with the Houston Astros, and was traded to the Miami Marlins after about a month. That offseason, he was dealt to L.A. alongside Austin Barnes and Andrew Heaney.
Hernandez quickly became a fan favorite with the Dodgers as the team experienced postseason success. He was a member of the 2020 World Series championship squad before leaving to the Boston Red Sox in free agency a few months later.
He was traded back to L.A. during the 2023 season, where he took back a role as a utility player. Sunday’s announcement comes after months of uncertainty about his future in L.A.
Last season, Hernandez hit for a .229 batting average in 126 games.
