LOS ANGELES — There were plenty of hugs for Enrique Hernandez to give upon his return to Dodger Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, just part of a wild 24 hours where he was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Wednesday was the first time Hernandez has been back to Chavez Ravine since leaving the Dodgers following their 2020 World Championship. He told reporters that he had had about three hours of sleep following a whirlwind of a trade that started inside Fenway Park and culminated with him taking the field as the Dodgers' starting second baseman.
"It feels different because I was playing for another team yesterday," Hernandez said. "It's weird to be here. There are so many emotions. I don't even know how to put them all into words."
Hernandez said he started hearing about the trade from Red Sox officials around 1 or 1:30 Eastern time on Tuesday, he said. Just over a day later, the 31-year-old Hernandez was in Dodger blue and taking grounders at Dodger Stadium.
"I'm excited to be back," Hernandez said. "I'm excited to join a playoff race and be back on the West Coast."
What is the plan for Kiké Hernandez with the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts inserted Hernandez into the lineup on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, batting sixth. Roberts wasted little time seeing if a return to the Dodgers could be the tonic that cures what has been a disappointing season for Hernandez, with a slash line of .222/.279/.320 in 323 plate appearances.
Roberts said that Hernandez will get plenty of playing time in L.A., mostly playing against left-handed pitchers while moving all over the field to help the Dodgers defense.
"I had a brief conversation with Kiké when he got to the ballpark," Roberts said. "I gave him a big hug and told him how excited we were to have the potential that he has to impact our ball club."
Roberts added that, while Dodgers fans are excited about a favorite player returning back to the fold, it will be a different Hernandez who takes the field than the one they last saw (on television, at least) in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
One of the reasons that Hernandez left Los Angeles originally was the allure of more playing time with another team. Three years later, he returns and told reporters he is fine with a platoon role.
"He's more mature through some experiences, some good and some not so good," Roberts said. "When we had him the first time, there was a strong desire to be an everyday player, and I don't fault him for it. That's what you want from all your guys. But I do think that he's in a position now where he's much more open to the role. And I think that with clarity and with openness, I think that he can thrive for us this year in the field."
While he is glad to be back in L.A., Hernandez said it was difficult to leave a Red Sox franchise where he had spent the last two-plus seasons.
"Obviously the hardest part about this trade was leaving behind a lot of friends and people you consider family over there," Hernandez said. "But being here and seeing all of the faces I haven't seen for a few years, that's great."
One of those friends he's leaving behind in Boston is Justin Turner, the former Dodgers third baseman who was his teammate in L.A. and Boston as well. Turner posted three sad emojis on Twitter after the Hernandez trade was announced.
"We have a lot of history together. We were teammates for seven years," Hernandez said. "I possibly was the main reason why he went to Boston. I was the one who got the whole ball rolling with the front office to make things happen. For me to take him there and then for me to get traded midseason is tough. This is a business. You get used to these types of things, but we're still humans and we still care about each other.
"I'm glad it's 2023 and we all the technology in the world to FaceTime or text or whatever. And I get to see him in a couple of weeks."
That's August 25-27 when Hernandez will be back in Boston as the Dodgers play a three-game series against the Red Sox, part of what must seem like an infinity loop to a player who has ties to both franchises this season.
