Teoscar Hernandez’s Unexpected Journey in Baseball
HOUSTON – Teoscar Hernandez has quite a remarkable career in professional baseball, spanning over 15 years. He has accumulated an impressive array of accolades.
The experienced player boasts two World Series rings from the Dodgers’ consecutive championships in the past two years. Additionally, he has a few title rings from his early days in the minor leagues, and he even clinched a win in the winter league back in his hometown in the Dominican Republic.
However, not all of his achievements carry the same kind of distinction. Some are viewed with a hint of irony and technicality.
In 2017, Hernandez was part of the Houston Astros. During that season, he received a World Series ring that became somewhat tainted due to the team’s involvement in sign-stealing and trash-banging scandals, despite having played only one game before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Of course, Hernandez was not part of the scandal itself.
In that singular game with the Astros, he didn’t get a chance to bat at all.
Hernandez expressed surprise later on that he received a ring at all, not realizing that even a small contribution could be valued so highly.
Interestingly, he is now a favored player among Dodgers fans, who are most affected by the fallout of this particular scandal, which adds a unique twist to his possession of the diamond-studded token.
“Clearly, that wasn’t the right way to go about it,” Hernandez commented during a recent visit to Houston, now as a member of the Dodgers. “I wouldn’t say that was the best way for them to handle things.”
Yet, in responding to what he did with that 2017 World Series ring, Hernandez mentioned that it’s still a proud part of his collection.
While the title it represents might be controversial, for Hernandez, it serves as a reminder of his journey and the significant strides he has made since that time.
When he initially signed with the Astros as an 18-year-old, Hernandez was almost ready to give up on baseball altogether. Coming from the Dominican Republic and lacking popularity, he had even told his family that if he couldn’t secure a contract with an MLB organization, he’d likely stop playing.
“No one was willing to take a chance on me, but the Astros did,” he recalled. “They had faith in my potential.”
Hernandez thrived in Houston’s farm system, evolving into a power hitter who made his major league debut in 2016. However, with such a deep roster, opportunities for consistent playtime in the majors were rare.
His only chance to play in the 2017 season turned into an unfortunate situation. On April 25, during a game against Cleveland, he came in as a defensive replacement but ended up colliding with José Altuve while attempting to catch a fly ball.
Both players had to leave the game due to injuries, and Hernandez was taken off the field in a medical cart.
After some time on the disabled list, he was sent back to Triple-A, and then traded to Toronto as part of a deal that included Francisco Liriano.
“At the time, I didn’t fully grasp what was happening,” Hernandez reflected. “But now, having matured and learned more about the business side of baseball, it makes sense to me. They were seeking better opportunities, and I have no hard feelings about it.”
Ultimately, this trade proved to be a turning point in his career. Since then, Hernandez has been recognized as a multi-time All-Star and Silver Slugger, ranking among the top 15 MLB outfielders in hits, home runs, and RBIs.
His remarkable ascent continued when he returned to Houston for the first time as a Blue Jay the following summer. He chuckled while recalling how surprised he was to find out that the Astros planned an on-field ceremony for him, complete with the presentation of a ring.
“They told me I was getting a ring, and I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ I was totally caught off guard,” Hernandez reminisced. “But I couldn’t help but think, ‘Why?’”
Now, years later, the ring holds sentimental value. Unlike many others from the 2017 Astros team, he can cherish his ring with genuine pride.
