The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back versatile player Enrique Hernandez on Monday night as he returned from the 60-day injured list to face the Colorado Rockies in his first game of the season.
The 34-year-old utility player has bounced back from left elbow surgery and will take the field at third base while batting in the ninth position.
Hernandez went under the knife in November following elbow problems that sidelined him for two months during the 2025 campaign. He inked a one-year deal valued at $4.5 million in February to rejoin the Dodgers organization.
The surgical procedure also kept Hernandez from representing Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic in March.
His return comes at an opportune moment as third baseman Max Muncy continues to battle right wrist discomfort after taking a pitch from Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby on Friday. Muncy has been absent from the starting lineup for three consecutive days, though he participated in outfield throwing exercises before Monday’s contest.
To make room for Hernandez on the roster, the Dodgers placed utility man Santiago Espinal on waivers for assignment.
The 31-year-old Espinal compiled a .220 batting average with one home run and four RBIs across 26 appearances this season. The former 2022 All-Star selection for Toronto posted a .260 career batting mark with 31 homers through 604 games spanning time with the Blue Jays (2020-23), Cincinnati Reds (2024-25) and Dodgers.
Last season, Hernandez managed a .203 batting average alongside 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 92 contests. Throughout his 12-year major league career, including nine seasons with the Dodgers across two different periods, Hernandez maintains a .236 career batting average with 130 home runs and 470 RBIs over 1,275 games.
Hernandez has built his reputation on delivering in high-pressure postseason moments. He has connected for 16 home runs with 42 RBIs across 103 career playoff contests while contributing to the Dodgers’ World Series championships in 2020, 2024 and 2025.
During his time with the Boston Red Sox in 2021, Hernandez launched five home runs in the postseason as the team advanced to the American League Championship Series before losing to the Houston Astros.
