He's back: Fan favorite Kiké Hernández agrees to deal with the Dodgers

Los Angeles, California - July 25, 2024: Kike Hernandez (8) celebrating the Los Angeles Dodgers. — Kiké Hernández celebrated in a canoe with his teammates after his game against the San Francisco Giants in July. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

After welcoming a bunch of new faces to the organization this offseason, the Dodgers brought back a more familiar figure on Sunday.

According to people familiar with the matter, the team and Kiké Hernández have reached a contract that will re-sign with the club in 2025 to play World Series defense in 2025.

The terms of the transaction are still waiting physically and are not yet clear. Hernández sent a signal to himself by posting a video on social media on Sunday afternoon with the title "Through the Open Door".

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The Dodgers did leave the door to reunite with Hernández during the offseason, even in other signings in recent months.

The 33-year-old has always turned his attention to the team, and he played a key role in the October title.

At last week's Team Fan Festival, Andrew Friedman, president of baseball business and general manager Brandon Gomes said the Dodgers are still with Hernandez, according to the Dodgers (Hernández) negotiated, although he reportedly raised the interests of other teams, including the New York Yankees.

Now, when leaving Los Angeles after the 2020 championship with the Dodgers, he will be back to try to help the team become the first repeat champion of Major League Baseball in 25 years.

Kiké Hernández spoke at the Dodgers World Series celebration on November 1 at Dodgers Stadium. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Hernández is a long-time fan favorite from 2015 to 2020. Historical history goes back to his initial tenure with the Dodgers in 2015, since the 2023 trade deadline. The second chapter of success in Chavez Ravine since regaining the Dodgers.

That year, Hernández reached .262 in 54 games with the Dodgers, helping him get a one-year, $4 million contract in 2024.

Last season, Hernández started slow, setting average hits below August. But his swing was improved mid-season and the eye condition that prompted him to wear glasses led to a strong closing ceremony for the playoffs, when Hernández.

Hernández hit one of two lone home runs in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, which allowed the Dodgers to beat San Diego Padres 2-0 Diego Padres). He then scored seven hits and four RBIs in the NL Championship Series and then five more hits as the Dodgers knocked out the Yankees' second title in five seasons.

"This guy always rose," said manager Dave Roberts during the time of Hernández. "The reason we got him this year was to win 11 games in October."

Last fall, a few days after the team’s championship parade, Hernández made it clear that he hoped to have a chance to do it again.

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"I really really hope I'm back next year so we can run it back," Hernández told Dodgers fans at an event in November. "So make sure you guys are with Fry Deman talks with those guys and lets them know.”

Apparently, this message was received, and Hernandez's reward fulfilled one of the last wishes of the fan base, as well as his dodge-mates--has owned for the team's big spending winter.

"Everyone is waiting for these news to pop up," outfielder Teoscar Hernández said last week. "I hope Kiké is back."

The story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.