The Unfiltered Moment That Defined Kiké Hernández’s Playoffs
The "Bomb" Heard Round the World
For Los Angeles Dodgers fans, Enrique "Kiké" Hernández is the kind of player you love to root for—scrappy, versatile, clutch, and always good for a laugh. But during the Dodgers’ 2024 playoff run, Hernández delivered an unfiltered, live-TV moment that could’ve cost him dearly. Let’s just say it was a postseason "bomb" of a different kind.
The Infamous Interview
It all went down after the Dodgers dispatched the San Diego Padres in Game 5 of the NLDS. Hernández, beaming from the team’s first NLCS berth in three years, stood on the field with Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal for a postgame interview. When asked what made this year’s Dodgers team different, Kiké paused, flashed a mischievous grin, and asked, "Are we live?" Rosenthal nodded, and Kiké didn’t hold back: "The fact that we don’t give a f***."
The Fallout
Cue the collective gasp of TV producers everywhere. While Dodgers fans howled with laughter and probably nodded in agreement, Major League Baseball wasn’t laughing. More than two months later, during an appearance on LeBron James’ talk show, The Shop, Hernández revealed the fallout from the f-bomb heard round the world.
The Fine and the Apology
MLB hit him with a fine and initially planned to suspend him for Game 1 of the NLCS. But thanks to some skillful maneuvering by his agent at Wasserman and the MLB Players Association, Kiké dodged the suspension, though not the fine. "I did get fined for that," Hernández admitted on the show, laughing as he recounted the ordeal. "I was going to get an even heftier fine and a suspension, but having a good agent and a good players’ union came in handy. They got rid of the suspension and lowered the fine a little bit."
The Apology
As for the apology MLB required? Kiké described it as "50/50 on the honesty part of it." What made the moment so quintessentially Kiké was his unrepentant honesty. "What I answered was from the bottom of my heart," he said. "I didn’t think there was any other way to describe the team."
Kiké’s Postseason Run
Dodgers fans have every reason to be thankful for Kiké’s quick save off the field—because on it, he was electric. In Game 1 of the NLCS, he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored as the Dodgers trounced the New York Mets, 9-0. That performance set the tone for a postseason run that ended with the Dodgers hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Conclusion
Hernández’s clutch hitting, combined with his trademark defensive versatility, made him a vital piece of the Dodgers’ championship puzzle. Over the postseason, he slashed .294/.357/.451, proving yet again why he’s been a fan favorite in Los Angeles.
FAQs
Q: What did Kiké Hernández say during the infamous postgame interview?
A: "The fact that we don’t give a f***."
Q: How did MLB respond to the comment?
A: MLB hit him with a fine and initially planned to suspend him for Game 1 of the NLCS.
Q: How did Kiké’s agent and the MLB Players Association help him?
A: They negotiated a reduced fine and avoided a suspension.
Q: Is Kiké Hernández a free agent?
A: Yes, as of the end of the 2024 season, and he has left the door open for a return to the Dodgers.
