The Dodgers crafted a lineup with three MVPs by adding Shohei Ohtani to the mix with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Yet all three were effectively non-factors in Los Angeles' NLDS-clinching win. That might have been because neither had the last name "Hernández."
Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández delivered the two biggest blows from the Dodgers' offense in Game 5, with each blasting a solo home run in the victory over the Padres. One run was all the Dodgers needed, but two made it much more comfortable for LA.
Teoscar Hernández was one of the Dodgers' most consistent bats this season, winning the Home Run Derby and earning an All-Star selection in the shadow of Ohtani, while Kiké Hernández had a much quieter year but gave the Dodgers some much-needed versatility.
Does the connection between Hernández and Hernández run deeper than just teammates? Here's what you need to know.
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Are Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández related?
Sometimes, brotherhood runs deeper than blood. Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández are not related, despite having the same last name.
That didn't stop Alex Rodriguez from referring to the pair as the "Hernández brothers" after the Dodgers' Game 5 win in the NLDS. On that night, they did have something in common as the only two players to drive in runs for either team in the winner-take-all game.
While they aren't actually related, Kiké Hernández is glad to have a fellow Hernández by his side. He praised Teoscar Hernández after advancing to the NLCS.
“I’m glad we’re both on the team. I’m glad we have the same last name, I’m glad the accent goes over both A’s," Hernández said. "I told him before Game 4, never been done in the history of this game, two Hernández going deep in the same game in the playoffs."
Kiké Hernández, sitting next to Teoscar Hernández:
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 12, 2024
“I’m glad we’re both on the team. I’m glad we have the same last name, I’m glad the accent goes over both A’s. I told him before Game 4, never been done in the history of this game, two Hernández’s going deep in the same game…
It's a very specific stat, but it's something the pair can hold onto for the rest of their baseball careers. They're hoping that isn't the only special moment that comes out of October. Championship teams have a bond that lasts a lifetime, and the Dodgers are now eight wins from immortality.
MORE: How Kiké Hernández shocked MLB fans with NSFW postgame interview
Teoscar Hernández stats 2024
| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | H | SB | OPS |
| 154 | .272 | 33 | 99 | 160 | 12 | .840 |
Teoscar Hernández's home run in Game 5 wasn't just some feel-good story. He was an All-Star in 2024, hitting a career-high 33 home runs and posting the best OPS+ of any full season in his career.
Still, if you ask him, he'd likely tell you it feels better to hit a home run in the postseason than it does to hit one that wins the Home Run Derby,
Kiké Hernández stats 2024
| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | H | SB | OPS |
| 126 | .229 | 12 | 42 | 83 | 0 | .713 |
Kiké Hernández didn't have a stellar offensive season, whether by his own standards or by league standards. His OPS+ of 85 fell below his career average, which was already subpar. Hernández's value, however, comes more from his versatility.
The 33-year-old started games at every infield position and two outfield spots in 2024. He even appeared in four games as a pitcher, albeit in mop-up duty. His range was especially valuable when the Dodgers were dealing with infield injuries, including one that knocked Mookie Betts out for a chunk of the season.
Those problems were solved when Betts returned and Tommy Edman came over from the Cardinals, but Hernández proved in the NLDS that his bat is still worth keeping around as he looks to add a championship to his second stint in Los Angeles.
