It wasn’t supposed to unfold like this.
Kiké Hernández had just re-signed. The reunion felt right. The clubhouse energy was intact.
And then came the roster move no one saw coming.
⚡ LATEST UPDATE: Dodgers Shift Strategy After Placing Kiké Hernández on 60-Day IL in Unexpected Twist ⚡
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have officially placed veteran utility man Kiké Hernández on the 60-day injured list as he continues recovery from left elbow surgery undergone earlier this offseason — a development that subtly but significantly reshapes Los Angeles’ early-season roster plans.
Hernández, 34, had signed a one-year deal on Feb. 12, marking his third return to the organization since being reacquired in 2023. The move signals that the Dodgers expect him to miss at least the first two months of the 2026 season.
He will also be sidelined for Team Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
This isn’t just about losing a bench piece.
It’s about losing a clubhouse catalyst.
More Than Just a Utility Player
Kiké Hernández has long been one of the Dodgers’ most valuable Swiss Army knives.
Over nine seasons in Los Angeles, he has played every position except catcher, providing lineup flexibility few players in the league can match. When injuries strike — and they always do — Hernández is the stabilizer.
And then there’s October.
Few players elevate under postseason lights quite like Kiké. He owns a career .826 OPS in the playoffs, a number that explains why Dodgers fans trust him when the stakes are highest. His regular-season production — a respectable .707 OPS across 12 MLB seasons — underscores his reliability.
But beyond numbers, Hernández brings something harder to quantify: pulse.
Energy. Humor. Edge. He’s a dugout ignition switch.
Losing him early forces the Dodgers to recalibrate.
Enter Jack Suwinski — A Gamble With Upside
To fill Hernández’s 40-man roster spot, Los Angeles claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
At first glance, it’s a low-risk move.
At second glance, it’s intriguing.
Suwinski, 27, showed real power potential in his first two MLB seasons. As a rookie in 2022, he hit 19 home runs with a .709 OPS in 106 games. In 2023, he improved to 26 homers, 74 RBIs, and a .793 OPS across 144 games.
But then the slide came.
Since the start of 2024, Suwinski has struggled dramatically, batting just .169, while defensive metrics dipped sharply.
Now comes the twist: he’s out of minor league options.
That means he either makes the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster — or returns to the waiver wire.
There is no cushion.
A Roster Puzzle Intensifies
The Dodgers’ projected starting outfield appears set with Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernández, and Andy Pages all healthy. But the bench roles? Wide open.
Suwinski enters a competition where production and flexibility matter immediately.
The Dodgers are chasing a third consecutive World Series title, and roster spots won’t be handed out lightly.
Without Kiké available to plug defensive holes across the diamond, Los Angeles needs someone capable of absorbing unpredictability.
Suwinski offers power.
But can he offer reliability?
What This Means for L.A.
The 60-day IL placement isn’t catastrophic — but it is disruptive.
It removes one of the team’s most versatile chess pieces and forces younger or reclamation players into accelerated evaluation.
For Hernández, the timeline suggests a potential midseason return — and likely a careful ramp-up.
For the Dodgers, it means adapting quickly.
Depth wins championships.
And for now, that depth has been tested earlier than expected.
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