You just knew Kiké Hernández was going to make his return to the Dodgers this MLB offseason with a little bit of flair. That’s just who he is.
And sure enough, as soon as the news broke, Hernández took to X (formerly Twitter) to drop the perfect movie reference—a clip from Avengers: Infinity War.
What better way to announce I’m back than with a little cinematic drama?
A Deal That Felt Inevitable
But let’s get down to business: Kiké Hernández is officially returning to Los Angeles. Well, almost officially. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported that the deal is in place, pending a physical.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale confirmed that it’s a one-year contract. The reunion that Dodgers fans—and even some Dodgers players—were hoping for is finally happening.
And this wasn’t exactly out of nowhere. The Dodgers’ front office had been dropping hints for weeks. General manager Brandon Gomes and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman made it clear during DodgerFest that the door was never fully closed on Hernández coming back.
“Obviously, we’d never close the door to Kiké,” Gomes said. “I think a lot of it is just making sure he and his family feel like it’s the best position for him. But we’ll have those conversations.”
Spoiler alert: Those conversations happened, and now, here we are.
Players Wanted Kiké Hernández Back—Badly
But let’s be real—this wasn’t just a front-office decision. Players wanted Kiké back. You had guys like Teoscar Hernández straight-up saying, “I’m praying to God that we can bring Kiké back.”
And Anthony Banda made it clear that Hernández wasn’t just a great player but a key presence in the clubhouse.
“He was phenomenal with me,” Banda said. “He made a great impact on me as a player, as a friend… He brought such high energy, he definitely brightened my days.”
And that’s the thing about Kiké Hernández—he’s not just another utility player. He’s an energy guy, a glue guy, a guy who keeps the clubhouse loose but also knows when it’s time to lock in.
He’s a prankster, a hype man, and he delivers when the stakes are high.
A Championship Mentality
What does this mean for the Dodgers? Well, Hernández is returning to a team that’s already loaded with talent and looking to defend its NL West title. And for Hernández himself, this was the move he wanted all along.
“My main priority would probably be coming back,” Hernández said earlier this offseason. “I think this team—the Dodgers—are very well positioned to make another run and be the first back-to-back team since the New York Yankees in ’99 and 2000.”
And now? He gets his shot. Dodgers fans wanted this. Players wanted this.
