LOS ANGELES \u2014 The Los Angeles Dodgers have their self-described \u201cclown in the clubhouse\u201d back. Cue the levity, energy and intensity.<\/p>\n
Read more New York back in NBA Finals for first time since 1999 after beating Cleveland 130-93 to finish sweep<\/a><\/p>\n Utilityman Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a> made his season debut in a 5-3 win<\/a> against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. He went 2 for 2 with an RBI double down the third base line while batting ninth and starting at third base in place of injured Max Muncy<\/a> in the series opener. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh, when the Dodgers rallied with four runs to pull out their 18th comeback win.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was good to have him back,\u201d manager Dave Roberts said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of emotion and adrenaline and anticipation. That\u2019s probably the thing you got to guard against, but he did a good job managing those emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n Hern\u00e1ndez, 34, missed the first 53 games of the season recovering from offseason elbow surgery.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fixed and I\u2019m feeling pretty good right now,\u201d he said in the dugout before the game.<\/p>\n Hern\u00e1ndez will see playing time at second and third base and possibly relieve an outfielder at times. He\u2019ll also be available off the bench to pinch hit. Muncy is sidelined with a right wrist injury, but could return Wednesday.<\/p>\n Hern\u00e1ndez had surgery to repair a torn muscle and torn extensor tendon in his left elbow during the offseason. The operation was done to fix an injury he originally suffered during the season and subsequently worsened.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a tough competitor, tough player,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI don\u2019t think anyone appreciated how severe the injury was.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the tear, Hern\u00e1ndez gritted through the pain<\/a> and helped the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series<\/a> . He appeared in all 17 playoff games, batting .250 with nine runs, one homer and seven RBIs. However, the extended play caused the tendon to detach from the bone, forcing him to undergo corrective surgery.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a rough year,\u201d he said. \u201cThe best description that I can put on it is every time I would get in my batting stance I would feel like I had a blowtorch on.\u201d<\/p>\n After the World Series, an MRI revealed a lot of swelling and Hern\u00e1ndez was left with the option of either rehab or having surgery. Not knowing what choice to make, he left the final decision to his family and his agent.<\/p>\n They reminded him that he\u2019d try to play through a core injury for three years and ended up blowing out the other side of his body, leading to multiple surgeries. They urged him to make another trip to the operating room with Dr. Neal ElAttrache.<\/p>\n \u201cI woke up with ElAttrache telling me, \u2018This is the worst injury I\u2019ve ever seen of this kind and I don\u2019t know how you played,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cI told him, \u2018Thank you, I take it as a compliment.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n In a post-surgery narcotic haze, Hern\u00e1ndez FaceTimed with Andrew Friedman and urged ElAttrache to repeat to the president of baseball operations what he had just told his patient.<\/p>\n Before his phone was taken away, Hern\u00e1ndez told Friedman: \u201cI did this for you so you better bring me back.\u201d<\/p>\n Hern\u00e1ndez signed a $4.5 million, one-year contract in February to return for his 10th season with the Dodgers.<\/p>\n Read more Astros starter Tatsuya Imai and 2 relievers throw combined no-hitter against Rangers<\/a><\/p>\n Because of the surgery and his recovery timeline, Hern\u00e1ndez missed the World Baseball Classic<\/a> for his native Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n \u201cThat hurt my soul a little more than I was in pain physically last year just because I\u2019ve been dreaming about playing in the WBC in Puerto Rico since I was 13 years old and it kind of felt like it got taken away from me,\u201d he said. \u201dYou got to find a way to look at positives in life. I was like, it would have sucked a lot more if we\u2019d lost the World Series and I still didn\u2019t get to play in the WBC. It was a fair trade.\u201d<\/p>\n Last October, Hern\u00e1ndez became the franchise leader in postseason appearances with his 87th game. He ranks eighth all-time in major league history with 103 postseason games.<\/p>\n He\u2019s the fourth player of Puerto Rican descent with 100-plus career postseason appearances, joining Jorge Posada (125), Bernie Williams (121) and Yadier Molina (104).<\/p>\n \u201cDoing that as a Latino is very important, especially in the city where there\u2019s such a big Latino community and we\u2019re living in some rough times,\u201d he said. \u201cEspecially in this city, the last two years there\u2019s been a lot of weird things going on, so I take the responsibility to not only represent this organization but the Latino community, the Puerto Rican community. It\u2019s something that\u2019s very touching to my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n Starting the season on the IL was a blessing in disguise. Hern\u00e1ndez was able to spend time with his son born in February and his daughter.<\/p>\n When he wasn\u2019t waking up in pain anymore, he realized he could be back at the end of his IL stint.<\/p>\n \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like I had to rush, it didn\u2019t feel like I was going to lose my spot,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was very key.\u201d<\/p>\n He played in 12 rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, batting .214 with two doubles and three RBIs.<\/p>\n \u201cI had lot of fun with those guys,\u201d he said. \u201cNow I\u2019m back with my guys here and I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n As the Dodgers chase a third consecutive World Series championship, Hern\u00e1ndez will have his eye on his younger teammates when he\u2019s not cracking everyone up.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in charge of checking guys,\u201d he said. \u201cI think guys know if I\u2019m on them, and I\u2019m tough on them, it means I care a lot about them.\u201d<\/p>\n To clear a spot for Hern\u00e1ndez, utilityman Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment.<\/p>\n The 31-year-old former All-Star hit .220 with three doubles, one home run and four RBIs in 26 games for the Dodgers.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll lob a call to him in the next couple days to thank him for everything he did for us,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cHe was fantastic. Obviously, we had a tough decision to make. We were very forthright up front about the expectations. I think he respected that.\u201d<\/p>\n