Red Sox player fans are glad to see leave: Kiké Hernández
Kiké Hernández had some great moments in a Red Sox uniform. His 2021 playoff performance was one for the ages — Hernández put up incredible numbers, batting .408 with four doubles, a triple and five homers during Boston's run to the ALCS (where they fell in six games to the Houston Astros).
But after that, Hernández couldn't produce. In 2022, he batted .222/.291/.338 with the Sox and his 2023 numbers only worsened. His defense was also among the worst in the league as he posted a shocking -18 outs above average in 2023.
The Red Sox tried to sell Hernández as a team leader of sorts after Xander Bogaerts walked in free agency and he did not meet team or fan expectations. Boston dished Hernández back to the Dodgers before the 2023 trade deadline and seeing him sign with the Dodgers again on Feb. 26 relieved some fans' anxieties that he may return to Boston.
Hernández has a great personality and is a nice guy to have in the clubhouse, but the Red Sox's defense can't continue to be as bad as it's been in recent years. Hernández contributed to that when he wasn't supposed to, so the team welcoming back Trevor Story while witnessing the emergences of Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela are much more preferable alternatives.