Easily one of the best pick ups for Boston this off season has been Kiké Hernandez. The former Dodger came to Boston with the hope of a bigger role, and he has gotten it. On a Boston team that has championship aspirations, Hernandez has been leaving his mark. No matter where manager Alex Cora puts Hernandez, he always manages to impress.
The Perfect Utility Man?
Hernandez’s key trait is that he is a utility man. This means he can play just about every position on the field but pitcher and catcher. When the Red Sox won the World Series in 2018, one of the key players on the team was another utility man, Brock Holt. With Holt leaving in 2020, Hernandez was brought in to fill that gap.
And has Hernandez really filled that gap. Typically playing either at second base or in the outfield, Hernandez has shown off with some excellent defensive displays. This can be exemplified by Hernandez’s performance in Anaheim on July 6. In that game, Hernandez robbed a home run and latter threw out a runner at second from deep in right-center field. While Hernandez may not have made any plays in the infield that flashy, he still has played his position solidly.
Hernandez’s Success At The Plate
Hernandez has also been impressive on the offensive side of the plate. At the time of writing, Hernandez is sitting at a batting average of .241 with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs. In the month of July though, Hernandez has absolutely been killing it. In 16 games played in July, Hernandez has posted 6 home runs and 14 RBIs with a batting average of .262. This easily has been the hottest streak Hernandez has ever had in his career.
A potential reason for Hernandez’s success in July could be his return to the leadoff spot in the Boston line up. Hernandez had been there to start the season, but was then shifted around the line up after not finding too much success. Once given this second chance though, he has not wasted it. Hernandez has been coming out swinging hard since getting the leadoff spot back, sometimes going yard on the very first pitch.
A Great Fit For Both Parties
Hernandez came to Boston looking for a bigger role and Boston signed him to reinvigorate their line up. With the 2021 season well over half way done, it is safe to say both sides got what they wanted. Hernandez has helped to play a big role in Boston’s success in 2021. At many points so far this season, Hernandez has proven that has the clutch gene within him.
Hernandez has even proven it just this week on Thursday night against the Yankees at Fenway. In the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs, Hernandez his a 2-run RBI double to tie the game. With more performances like that, it is safe to say that Boston will continue to look at Hernandez for big spots in the future.
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