Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández Suffers Concerning Injury in Second Game Back

Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernandez exited Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies with a left oblique strain, the team announced during the matchup.

Kiké Hernández left tonight’s game with a left oblique strain.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 27, 2026

Hernandez made his season debut Monday after starting the year on the injured list as he recovered from offseason elbow surgery.

A day later, the Dodgers fan favorite was removed from the game because of a separate injury. Hernandez's return to LA was emotional and the utility man made an immediate impact in the series opener against the Rockies.

The 34-year-old went 2-for-2 in his first game back Monday and received a standing ovation from the crowd at Dodger Stadium in his first at-bat of the 2026 campaign.

“I felt tonight was good to have him in the game, get him a start,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I thought he was going to bring some energy, just obviously having [not] played for a while. And did bring that, got a big hit for us.”

Hernandez started off hot after waiting two months to play baseball. He recorded an RBI double and infield single, which helped the Dodgers get a 5-3 win Monday.

“You’re so excited to get back, [a lot of guys in that situation are] trying to do too much,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of emotion, adrenaline, anticipation. That’s probably the thing you got to guard against. But he did a good job of managing those emotions.”

Tuesday was more of the same for Hernandez, who hit a solo home run in the third inning with the Dodgers already leading the Rockies, 3-1.

KIKÉ'S BACK, TELL A FRIEND. pic.twitter.com/Hgd5xulK20
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 27, 2026

The Dodgers fan favorite then hit a double in his second at-bat of the night, but looked uncomfortable as he was rounding first. The team proceeded to announced Hernandez's exit because of an injury.

An oblique strain can be quite tough in terms of recovery.

Dodgers star Mookie Betts sustained an oblique injury less than two weeks into the 2026 season and was sidelined for more than a month because of it. Hernandez being sidelined only his second game back is bad news for the Dodgers.

Roberts will provide an update on Hernandez postgame, but the team likely won't know the severity of the injury right away.

The Dodgers didn't need Hernandez in their blowout win over the Rockies Tuesday night, but his departure is certainly concerning for the team.

The 2025 season wasn't an easy one for Hernandez, who played through injury the entire campaign. His dedication to the Dodgers by enduring an elbow issue was the fan favorite's pitch to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman for re-signing him in the winter.

“I woke up with ElAttrache telling me, ‘This was the worst injury I’ve ever seen of this kind, and I don’t know how you played,’” Hernández said to reporters on Monday. “And I told him, ‘Thank you, I take it as a compliment.’ And I FaceTimed Andrew right then and there, and I told him, ‘ElAttrache, tell him what you just said.’ And I was like, ‘I did this for you, so you better bring me back.’”

The Dodgers brought back Hernandez on a one-year deal knowing he would miss the start of the year.

Now, his status for 2026 once again remains uncertain.

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