There’s a lot of pressure on the Los Angeles Dodgers to win a third consecutive World Series in the 2026 season, but fan favorite Kike Hernandez isn’t too bothered by it.
Speaking with Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Hernandez “embrace[d] the target on the team’s back.”
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“I take it as a compliment, I take it as a privilege,” Hernández said. “We’re playing in some weird times in the game where not every person that owns a team is trying to win. A lot of them are trying to make money. Fine. It’s their money. They can do whatever it is. Not all 30 teams are trying to win a World Series, and for us to be in a position where this team is doing whatever they can to put us in a position to compete deep into the season, deep into October, I take it as a privilege.”
Apr 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Kike Hernandez (8) pitches in the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Who Isn’t Trying to Win a World Series?
It seems likely that Hernandez was referencing the Los Angeles Angels, as owner Arte Moreno was recently quoted as saying that their fans don’t put winning in their top five priorities.
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“The number one thing fans want is affordability,” Moreno said, citing Angels survey results, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. “They want affordability. They want safety, and they want a good experience when they come to the ballpark.”
For Dodgers fans who’ve won back-to-back championships, not trying to win probably feels unfathomable.
What has Kike Hernandez Been up to?
Unsurprisingly, Hernandez has been focused on winning.
Not only is he gearing up for another year in Dodger Blue, but he’s joined Team Puerto Rico for much of the World Baseball Classic.
Though he can’t play due to his recovery from surgery, he’s been there to support his squad as pool play returned to Puerto Rico for the first time since 2013.
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“It’s a moment that I’ll never forget,” Hernández said Thursday. “I’m still bummed that I don’t get to be a part of it, but I still support my people.”
He’s also enjoyed all the winning, as Puerto Rico advanced out of pool play and into the knockout round, with some highlight finishes along the way.
Team Puerto Rico’s walkoff home run to beat Panama in extra innings was “up there as one of those really cool moments that I’ll always remember,” he said.