The Los Angeles Dodgers have been dealing with a ton of injuries this season, and Kiké Hernández is at the top of that list.

The 34-year-old not only began the season on the Injured List, but lasted just two games in late May before he missed another two-plus months.

Hernández returned to the Dodgers lineup on Thursday, July 30, but went just 1-for-5 in his first two games back after starting the year 4-for-4.

His red-hot start may have given this team false hope, especially since he hit a home run, two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs in his first four at-bats of the season.

With just two hits to his name from July 30 to August 17, the Dodgers knew something needed to change. 

Thankfully, a flip switched on Wednesday, Aug. 19, as he helped guide the Dodgers to an extra-innings victory over the last-place Colorado Rockies.

It may be only his second home run of the year, but the Puerto Rican native finally did something notable.

Hernández got things started in the second inning with an RBI single to center field that would score Mookie Betts.

Fast forward to the fourth inning, Betts hit a 375-foot home run at Coors Field, and then Hernández hit one the exact same distance just two batters later.

Betts' homer was a solo shot, but Hernández's second home run of the year brought both him and Kyle Tucker home, expanding the Dodgers' lead to 4-0.

Together, Betts and Hernández combined for a 5-for-9 night with two home runs and five RBIs.

The Dodgers have been waiting for not only Betts to break out of his slump, but Hernández as well, and this may have finally been what he needed to push forward and deliver a dominant stretch in the final few weeks of the 2026 season.

Now 77-51, the Dodgers have seen major contributions from a boatload of players this season. They're one of the best teams in all of baseball for a reason, and their depth is second to none.

After sweeping the Rockies, Betts jumped to fourth in the home run leaderboard as he crushed his 16th of the year. The team's leader is still Shohei Ohtani, to no surprise, as he's hit 30 this season.

Not too far behind are Max Muncy (25) and Andy Pages (21), but it's incredible to think that this team has a grand total of 166 homers this season from 18 different players.