Dodgers News: Revamped and Recharged: Teoscar Hernández Aims for a 2026 Bounce-Back After Quietly Battling Groin Injury

GLENDALE, AZ—While the Los Angeles Dodgers angered the baseball world by becoming the first back-to-back champions in nearly 25 years, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows in Southern California, as multiple players did not have the season they initially envisioned.

One of those players was 2024 National League All-Star and Home Run Derby champion Teoscar Hernández, who re-signed with Los Angeles last winter to a 3-year, $66 million deal.

Hernández was a significant part of the Dodgers’ success in 2024, which saw multiple star players spend time on the injured list, including Tommy Edman, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and even Mookie Betts, who hit a game-tying double in Game Five of the World Series.

However, the 2025 season was a much different story for Teoscar as an early-season groin injury in May derailed his offensive production, and his play in right field was rightly criticized after he profiled as one of the worst defensive right fielders in baseball.

Coming into camp, Hernández finally admitted that for much of the late season, he did not feel like himself, feeling heavier and never quite healthy after that groin injury that forced him to the 15-day injured list in May.

In an interview with Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Hernández revealed the significance of that injury and that he wanted to remain on the field trying to help the Dodgers win despite not being 100% ready.

“I was fighting through it,” Hernández said. “Obviously, I didn’t say anything. I just wanted to be on the field and trying to help the team.”

The stats showed a stark contrast pre- and post-injury, with Hernández one of the Dodgers’ best hitters until early May at 149 wRC+, then one of the worst after his activation off the IL at 86 wRC+.

Hernández is now healthy and ready to prove the doubters wrong, having dropped over 10 pounds after an extensive offseason training program and returned to his usual 204-pound frame. While he ultimately felt more comfortable in right field, he acknowledged that he didn’t do much to help keep his place there.

Hernández also admitted to seeing his name fly around in trade rumors during the winter and understood the team was going todo what’s best for them and increase their chances to win another World Series title, but is thankful that it didn’t happen.

“Obviously, I don’t want to go,” Hernández said. “But if they feel they can be a better team, they’re going to do it. As much as I like to be here, for them it has the business side of it, and if they feel they can be better (by) trading me and getting somebody else, they’re going to do it.”

Still, a trade never came to fruition, with the only named team interested being the Kansas City Royals, who were desperate for outfield production. As with Glasnow, the team assured him he’d be on the club by spring.

Now Hernández will return to the role he held in 2024, becoming the Dodgers’ everyday left fielder. With his body healthy and weight down, he will now aim for one award that has eluded him throughout his career: a Gold Glove.

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