Teoscar Hernandez joined the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year deal in the 2024 season, which culminated in a World Series victory. It was clear that Teo was always going to stay with the Dodgers following that championship, but it was a bit delayed in the offseason. This was because the Dodgers were pursuing other free agents like Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki.
After ultimately signing a three-year extension worth $66 million, Hernandez opened up about his feelings surrounding the free agent process with teammate Mookie Betts in an interview on Bleacher Report.
Teoscar Hernandez Speaks About Dodgers Culture
In the interview with Betts, Hernandez discussed how happy he was to see the Dodgers’ relentless commitment to winning. Despite winning the World Series, the Dodgers’ front office continued to take an aggressive approach to free agency, bringing in Snell and Sasaki as well as Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and Michael Conforto.
Hernandez talked about how it feels amazing to see the Dodgers build a winning culture. With these responses, Hernandez implied that he didn’t mind that he had to wait for his contract extension due to the other signings. It’s clear that Hernandez just wants to win, and staying with the Dodgers was the best move for him.
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Betts and Hernandez went on to talk about their experience in the AL East, which was always a tough division, comparing it to how the NL West looks today. With the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Arizona Diamondbacks looking like three of the best teams in the NL, you can make the argument that this is one of the toughest divisions in recent memory.
The two Dodgers’ stars spoke about how playing against such tough competition helps motivate you as a player, which creates a culture of excellence that we’ve seen with this Dodgers organization.
Hernandez 2025 Season Outlook
It’s been another great start at the plate for Hernandez, as he’s putting up a .270 batting average with six home runs and 22 RBI in 23 games so far. Hitting behind stars like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman puts Hernandez in a position to set a career-high. His current best is 116, set back in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Hernandez beat that number with this stacked Dodgers lineup.
While the Dodgers are currently dealing with injuries to their starting rotation — namely, Blake Snell — don’t be surprised to see this team back in the World Series once again. Even with a banged-up roster, the Dodgers remain the favorites.