On Tuesday, a former Toronto Blue Jay hit a massive home run in a key spot.
In Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series, former Blue Jays Teoscar Hernández hit a grand slam in the top of the third to bring the Los Angeles Dodgers back to life.
However, those last four runs were the final scoring from either of the two teams, as the Dodgers fell 6-5, bringing the series to 2-1 in favour of the San Diego Padres. Moreover, two former Blue Jay relievers pitched in this game, with Anthony Banda striking out two over an inning and a third, and Daniel Hudson pitching two thirds of an inning.
The Blue Jays acquired Hernández from the Houston Astros before the 2017 trade deadline for Francisco Liriano. He became a regular in 2018, slashing .239/.302//.468 with 22 home runs in 523 plate appearances. The following season, he was demoted during the season, but finished the year slashing .230/.306/.472 with 26 home runs in 464 plate appearances.
Hernández’s breakout season was in 2020, as he slashed .289/.340/.579 with 16 home runs in 207 plate appearances for 142 wRC+, helping the Blue Jays reach a postseason spot for the first time since 2016. In 2021, Hernández slashed .296/.346/.524 with 32 home runs in 595 plate appearances, with a career-best 24.9 K% and 4 fWAR.
The outfielder’s final season with the Blue Jays was in 2022, where he slashed .267/.316/.491 with 25 home runs in 535 plate appearances for a 130 wRC+ and a 2.9 fWAR. Early in the 2022-23 off-season, Hernández was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Adam Macko and Erik Swanson.
After an uneventful season with the Mariners, where he had a 106 wRC+ and the sixth-highest K% of 31.1%, Hernández signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers where he returned to form. Overall, he slashed .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs in 652 plate appearances for a 134 wRC+ and a 3.5 fWAR.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Blue Jays have interest in Hernández once again, as they’ll need a power bat or two in their lineup once the 2025 season begins.
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