Enrique Hernández (baseball)

Enrique Hernández

Hernández with the Houston Astros in 2014
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 14
Utility player
Born: (1991-08-24) August 24, 1991
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 1, 2014, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .247
Home runs 17
Runs batted in 54
Teams

Enrique Javier Hernández (born August 24, 1991)[1] is a Puerto Rican professional baseball utility player for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins. His nickname is Kike (/ˈkiː.keɪ/ KEE-kay),[2][3] sometimes spelled with an accent mark during television broadcasts to prevent it from being confused with a derogatory slur that has a different pronunciation.[4] While he is most experienced as an outfielder, he has played every position except pitcher, catcher, and first base.[5][6]

Early life

Hernández is the eldest child of Enrique Hernández Sr., a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and his wife Monica Gonzalez, owner of a boutique in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.[7] He has two younger sisters.[5] He began playing baseball at age six, participating in tournaments in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.[7]

He attended high school at the American Military Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.[1] Though he was only 5 foot 6 inches tall in his junior year, he grew five inches in his senior year.[5] He is the only MLB player to be drafted out of the American Military Academy in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.[6]

Career

Houston Astros

Hernández batting for the Oklahoma City RedHawks, triple-A affiliates of the Houston Astros, in 2014

Hernández was drafted by the Houston Astros in the sixth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He earned a $150,000 signing bonus.[1] He was called up to the majors for the first time on July 1, 2014.[8] He made his major league debut the same day, entering a game against the Seattle Mariners as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and collecting two hits, the first of which was a ground rule double in his first at-bat off Dominic Leone of the Mariners.[9] He hit his first home run the following day off Chris Young of the Mariners.[10] In 24 games, he hit .284 for the Astros.[11]

Miami Marlins

On July 31, 2014, the Astros traded Hernández, Jarred Cosart, and Austin Wates to the Miami Marlins for Jake Marisnick, Colin Moran, Francis Martes, and a compensatory draft pick.[12][13] Hernández hit his first major league grand slam with the Marlins on September 26, 2014 against the Washington Nationals off Craig Stammen in the 9th inning. Overall, he was in 18 games for them and had seven hits in 40 at bats (.175).[11]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Hernandez with the Dodgers

On December 10, 2014, Hernández was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Chris Hatcher, Austin Barnes, and Andrew Heaney, in exchange for Dan Haren, Dee Gordon, Miguel Rojas, and cash.[14] He was assigned to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers[15] and was recalled by the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 28, 2015.[16]He was used all over the field, with 20 games at second base, 19 in center field, 17 in left field, 16 at shortstop, 2 in right field and one at third base.[11] In August, Hernández replaced a slumping Joc Pederson as the primary starting center fielder,[17] though he missed much of September with a hamstring strain.[18] He played in 76 games for the team in 2015, with a .307 batting average, seven homers and 22 RBI.[11] During the season, he was known for his sense of humor and for wearing a banana suit in the dugout during games where he was not playing.[19]

In 2016, Hernandez was less effective, hitting only .190 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 109 games.[20] He was left off the roster for the first round of the playoffs, but was hitless in eight at-bats in the 2016 National League Championship Series.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Enrique Hernandez Stats". Baseball Almanac. 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Coleman, David (August 19, 2010). "Astros Prospect Profile: Kikè Hernandez". crawfishboxes.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ "The New Kids in Town: A Recap in One Act". crawfishboxes.com. July 1, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ Osborne, Cary (February 5, 2015). "'Dude, smile': An introduction to Enrique 'Kiké' Hernandez". Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Saxon, Mark (27 March 2015). "Kiké Hernandez and the vagaries of baseball life". ESPN. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 Price, Jimmy (29 June 2014). "Astros Future Interview: Enrique "Kike" Hernandez". House of Houston. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  7. 1 2 Rogers, Matt (22 July 2013). "Diamond Dancer". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  8. ↑ McTaggert, Brian (July 1, 2014). "Astros recall trio of Triple-A prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Cano and Seager lead Mariners over Astros 13-2". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ "July 2, 2014 Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros play-by-play and box score". Baseball Reference. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Enrique Hernandez Statistics and history". Baseball Reference.
  12. ↑ Drellich, Evan (31 July 2014). "Astros ship Jarred Cosart to Marlins in 6-player deal". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Grubb, Will. "Astros Trade Jarred Cosart To Miami". cbslocal.com. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  14. ↑ Gurnick, Ken (December 11, 2014). "Dodgers adding Kendrick, Rollins in trades". MLB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  15. ↑ Hoornstra, J.P. (April 7, 2015). "Revealed: Opening Day roster for Triple-A Oklahoma City.". LA Daily News. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  16. ↑ Weisman, Jon (April 28, 2015). "Crawford heads to disabled list, Hernandez recalled". dodgers.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Dodgers drop Pederson from starting lineup amid slump". Fox Sports. August 23, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  18. ↑ Hoornstra, JP (September 4, 2015). "Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, Kike Hernandez may be out until playoffs". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  19. ↑ Hoornstra, JP (September 1, 2015). "Andrew Friedman sent Kiké Hernandez into the Dodgers dugout wearing his banana suit.". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  20. ↑ "2016 Los Angeles Dodgers Batting, Pitching & Fielding Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
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