GLENDALE, Ariz. — When Teoscar Hernandez joined the Dodgers, Dave Roberts had one simple request from him.
“For me, just having a little conversation with Teoscar, it’s – just be a good hitter first,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of guys in the lineup around you that are going to be on base and hit behind you. So I think the thing is, just control the strike zone a little bit more, which I think he can do. And everything will take care of itself.”
A two-time Silver Slugger Award winner in Toronto, Hernandez was not a good hitter for the Seattle Mariners last year. He was half of one.
On the road, he batted .295 with an .830 OPS – numbers in line with his career statistics. At home, though, Hernandez was a different hitter. He batted .217 at T-Mobile Park with a .643 OPS.
“I think everything comes down to being confident at home plate. That was one of the hardest things for me, was getting comfortable at the plate when we were at home,” he said.
The 31-year-old Hernandez was not the first hitter to find T-Mobile’s dimensions and the Seattle nights unfavorable. For him, Hernandez said he never felt like he could pick up pitches well there.
“I don’t know. For some reason, I always see the pitcher like sideways, not straight,” he said. “I couldn’t figure it out, how to be in a straight position with the pitcher. That was hard for me.
“It’s a nice place to play because the city, the fans, the organization and everything is amazing. But that’s the only bad thing I could say about Seattle.”
Always a high-strikeout hitter, Hernandez hasn’t walked as many as 40 times in a season since 2019. He knows being “a good hitter” means a better balance.
“For me, it’s control the strike zone,” he said, echoing Roberts’ message. “It’s been an issue for me – a lot of strikeouts, no walks. Being on base is good not only for me but the team. If you’re on base a lot, you’ve got a chance to score runs. I think…
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