NEW YORK — Utility participant throughout the summer season, difference-maker in October. That’s the Enrique Hernández story. The Los Angeles Dodgers tremendous utility man is among the most versatile gamers within the sport, and in addition one of many best postseason performers in latest reminiscence. Wednesday night time, Hernández added to his legend in Sport 3 of the NLCS (LAD 8, NYM 0).

Towards righty Reed Garrett, Hernández swatted a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer to stretch LA’s result in 4-0 within the sixth inning. The Dodgers had stranded a small military on the bases within the first 5 innings and have been letting the Comeback Mets dangle round, which is one thing the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies discovered is a really dangerous concept earlier this postseason.

Right here is Hernández’s homer to place Sport 3 out of attain:

The house run is Hernández’s second of the postseason. His first, a solo shot in NLDS Sport 5 in opposition to the San Diego Padres, opened the scoring within the win-or-go-home sport. Total, Hernández is 7 for 21 (.333) with two homers in six video games performed this postseason, and, imagine it or not, he didn’t play in Sport 1 or 3 of the NLDS. He is been a mainstay since Sport 4 although.

“It simply brings out the most effective in me,” he mentioned after Wednesday’s sport. “I do not know if it is the Latino blood, I do not know what it’s, man, however, you realize, I put myself ready since I used to be just a little child pondering that I used to be enjoying October baseball when the video games have been essential for me as a child … You’ll be able to have one dangerous postseason after which not return to the postseason in a few years and I have been blessed with, that is like my ninth postseason already and I do not suppose I would have the numbers that I’ve if it wasn’t for the way a lot expertise I’ve and as a lot as I have been within the postseason.”

Hernández turned the twentieth participant with 15 profession postseason dwelling runs because of his Sport 3 heroics; his 223 plate appearances are the second fewest amongst these 20 gamers. Solely Babe Ruth (15 HR in 167 PA) and Nelson Cruz (18 HR in 207 PA) have hit the ball out of the park at the next charge than Hernández among the many 15-homer membership. He is one of many best postseason energy hitters ever, really.

The distinction between Hernández’s profession common season numbers and postseason numbers is staggering:

In the course of the common season, Hernández hits dwelling runs on the tempo of, nicely, a utility participant. Within the postseason, his profession dwelling run charge is roughly what teammate Shohei Ohtani put up this yr earlier than October hit. Hernández has a three-homer sport to his credit score in October (2017 NLCS Sport 5) and extra postseason collection with a 1.000 OPS (seven) than a sub-.700 OPS (six).

Hernández will get into his energy in opposition to the most effective pitching that high-quality opponents have to supply, and he does it with out sacrificing any contact. The league strikeout charge will increase within the postseason yearly — it was 22.6% throughout the common season and is 23.4% within the postseason in 2024 — but Hernández ups his manufacturing with out whiffing extra. That is as spectacular as the ability.

This summer season, Hernández authored a .229/.281/.373 slash line that was 15% under common as soon as adjusted for ballpark, which is kind of who he’s at this level in his profession. A below-average bat who helps his group most by enjoying everywhere in the subject. And I do imply everywhere in the subject. Hernández performed each place besides catcher in 2024 (he even pitched).

When you get to October, although, Hernández turns into indispensable due to his energy, his versatility, and his gradual heartbeat. Some gamers get jumpy this time of yr and fall out of their strategy. Others, like Hernández, meet the second and change into the most effective model of themselves. One of many sport’s greatest postseason performers has the Dodgers two wins away from the pennant.

“We’re in Los Angeles. A few of the best athletes of all-time,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned after the NLDS. “And people nice ones aren’t afraid to fail. And Kiké, whenever you discuss postseason in no matter sport, you cannot be afraid to fail. And this man at all times rises to the event.”