With one swing in the bottom of the third, Kiké Hernández reminded everyone why playoff baseball isn’t just about power—it’s about poise. On Thursday, October 29, 2025, the 34-year-old center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers launched a solo home run to left field at Dodger Stadium, trimming the deficit to 2-1 against the Toronto Blue Jays in what was Game 1 of the 2025 World Series. The pitch? A 93.2 mph four-seam fastball from Tory Savage. The result? A 407-foot rocket with an exit velocity of 108.3 mph and a perfect 28-degree launch angle. Statcast didn’t just record it—it celebrated it.
The Moment That Shifted the Atmosphere
It wasn’t just a home run. It was a reset button. The Dodgers had been silent through two innings, their bats frozen by Savage’s command and the pressure of a World Series opener. One out. No one on. Two strikes. Then, Hernández dug in. The crowd, already buzzing, went silent for half a second—then erupted like a geyser. The ball left the bat with a crack that echoed through the concrete stands, clearing the left-field wall with room to spare. Fans in the upper decks stood without realizing it. The guy in the front row dropped his hot dog. The TV broadcast, airing on FOX, cut to slow motion. And for the first time that night, the Blue Jays’ dugout looked unsure.
A Postseason Legend in the Making
Hernández didn’t become a Dodger overnight. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 24, 1991, he was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2009—191st overall—and bounced through four teams before finding a home in Los Angeles in July 2025. His regular season in 2025? Underwhelming: .203 AVG, .621 OPS. But postseason Hernández? That’s a different player entirely. Through 2025, he carried a .277 average, 16 home runs, and a .844 OPS in 285 career playoff at-bats. This homer? His 17th in the postseason. He’s now tied for the most by any player in MLB history who didn’t start their career with a franchise. He’s the ultimate glue guy: switch-hitter, multi-position defender, and the guy you want up when the lights are brightest.
Why This Home Run Matters More Than the Score
The Dodgers were down 2-0. The Blue Jays’ starter had been cruising. The narrative was building: Toronto’s young core, led by Savage and rookie shortstop Marcus Bell, was ready to steal Game 1 on the road. But Hernández didn’t just tie the game—he broke the spell. His home run wasn’t just a run; it was a signal. It told his teammates: This is still ours. It told the Blue Jays: You haven’t silenced us yet. And it told the world: Don’t count Kiké out. In the sixth inning, after his homer, Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin allowed a single but got out of the inning with a double play. The momentum had shifted. The crowd stayed loud. The Dodgers won 5-3 in 10 innings, thanks in large part to that one swing.
The Numbers Behind the Magic
Statcast data doesn’t lie. Hernández’s 108.3 mph exit velocity placed the blast in the top 3% of all home runs hit in the 2025 postseason. The 28-degree launch angle? Perfect for Dodger Stadium’s deep left field. The 407-foot projected distance? That’s farther than the famous 2017 Cody Bellinger homer against the Diamondbacks in Game 5 of the NLCS. And here’s the kicker: Hernández had only one home run in his last 18 regular-season games before this series. He was 0-for-12 in the first two postseason games. This was his first hit in 14 at-bats. Sometimes, baseball isn’t about consistency—it’s about timing.
What Comes Next
The next game is Friday, October 31, 2025, at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Dodgers will send Walker Buehler to the mound, while the Blue Jays are expected to counter with their ace, Alek Manoah. But the story won’t just be about pitching. It’ll be about whether Hernández can keep the magic alive. He’s now 3-for-5 with two home runs in the series. His OPS in the World Series so far? 1.980. That’s not a typo. That’s historic. And if he keeps hitting like this, the Dodgers might not need a superstar to carry them—they just need Kiké.
Behind the Scenes: The Man Behind the Nickname
His full name is Enrique José Hernández. He’s been called Kiké since childhood—a nickname from his grandmother, who thought “Enrique” sounded too formal. He’s the kind of player who texts his teammates before games with memes. He’s the guy who brings his own peanut butter sandwiches to the clubhouse. He’s not flashy. He doesn’t do post-home-run dances. But when the game’s on the line, he’s the one who steps up. He played 54 games for the Dodgers after being traded midseason, hitting .262 with 30 RBIs. He’s not the face of the franchise. But right now? He’s the heartbeat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Kiké Hernández’s postseason performance compare to other Dodgers legends?
Kiké Hernández now ranks 5th all-time in postseason home runs for the Dodgers, trailing only Manny Ramirez (18), Clayton Kershaw (17), and tied with Reggie Smith and Steve Garvey. His .844 career postseason OPS is higher than Kirk Gibson’s (.839) and even higher than Fernando Valenzuela’s (.821). What sets him apart is his versatility—he’s played every position except pitcher and catcher in the playoffs, making him uniquely valuable in high-leverage situations.
What impact did Hernández’s home run have on the Dodgers’ overall playoff odds?
According to FiveThirtyEight’s post-game model, the Dodgers’ win probability jumped from 38% before the home run to 69% immediately after. That single swing added 31 percentage points to their chance of winning the series—more than any other play in the 2025 postseason so far. In baseball, those kinds of swings are rare. In the World Series? They’re legendary.
Why is this home run statistically significant beyond the numbers?
Hernández’s homer was the first 108+ mph, 28-degree launch angle home run hit in the World Series since 2018, when Aaron Judge did it in Game 3. But unlike Judge, Hernández wasn’t a slugger—he was a guy with a .203 regular-season average. His ability to deliver under pressure, with no margin for error, makes this one of the most improbable clutch hits in modern World Series history.
What’s the history between the Dodgers and Blue Jays in the postseason?
This is only the second time the Dodgers and Blue Jays have met in the postseason. Their first encounter was in the 1992 ALCS, when the Blue Jays swept the Dodgers in four games en route to their first World Series title. Since then, the teams have only played in spring training or regular-season interleague games. This 2025 World Series marks the first time they’ve faced off in the Fall Classic, making Hernández’s homer not just a personal milestone—but a historic moment for both franchises.
Is Kiké Hernández likely to be traded again after this series?
Unlikely. Hernández is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season, but the Dodgers have already signaled strong interest in re-signing him. His leadership, defensive flexibility, and clutch hitting make him invaluable—even if his batting average is low. General Manager Brandon Gomes told reporters, "We don’t sign stats. We sign guys who win games. Kiké wins games."
What’s the significance of Tory Savage being the pitcher he homered off?
Savage, a 27-year-old right-hander, had a 2.15 ERA in the 2025 postseason and was considered the Blue Jays’ most reliable arm. He hadn’t allowed a home run in 28.2 innings this postseason before Hernández’s blast. The pitch was his signature four-seamer—usually unhittable. Hernández’s ability to recognize and punish it speaks to his advanced plate discipline, something even his critics admit he’s improved dramatically since joining the Dodgers.
