DODGERS SIGN TEOSCAR HERNÁNDEZ

January 12th, 2024

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with outfielder Teoscar Hernández for $23.5 million.

Hernández, 31, played in 160 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2023, batting .258 with 26 homers and 93 RBI. He finished among the team leaders in batting average (3rd), homers (3rd), RBI (3rd), slugging percentage (4th, .435), extra-base hits (2nd, 57), total bases (2nd, 272) and hits (2nd, 161) while recording 12 assists, which was tied with Alex Verdugo for the American League lead in outfield assist and tied for second overall in the Majors with Verdugo, Ian Happ and Fernando Tatis Jr.. The right-handed hitter slashed .287/.307/.510 against lefties last season, notching seven homers and driving in 27 batters.

In 2021, he had his best season in the Majors with the Toronto Blue Jays, slashing .296/.346/.524 with career-bests in hits (163), runs (92), homers (32), RBI (112) and stolen bases (12). He made his first All-Star Game in Colorado after hitting .297 with 11 homers and 48 RBI prior to the break. He went on to win his second straight Louisville Silver Slugger award (other; 2020) and finished 19th in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Hernández has played eight Major League seasons with the Houston Astros (2016-2017), Toronto Blue Jays (2017-2022) and Seattle Mariners (2023), amassing 159 career homers and 473 RBI in 811 games. He is a career .261 hitter with an .802 OPS while recording 58 outfield assists. The Cotui, Dominican Republic native was originally signed by the Houston Astros on February 17, 2011 as an amateur international free agent.