Los Angeles Dodgers player Kiké Hernández has ignited controversy by publicly sharing a critical letter from a fan, along with the fan's home address, on social media. The incident occurred after Hernández confirmed he would be skipping the team's upcoming July 23 visit to the White House to celebrate their 2026 World Series title.
Hernández, a veteran utility player, stated that his absence from the White House event is officially due to a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment for a strained left oblique. However, he also admitted that if he were active, he likely would not have attended the visit. This admission drew criticism from a fan named Larry, who sent a letter to the ballpark expressing his disapproval.
In the letter, Larry called Hernández "disrespectful, spoiled, pampered, entitled little brat" and referenced the team's previous promotion involving the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, which he claimed "disparages and denigrates the entire Catholic religion."
Instead of discarding the letter, Hernández posted a photograph of it, including the fan's unredacted return address, to his social media accounts with over 1.5 million followers. He captioned the post, "SO to Larry for the nice letter! Next time, at least make it handwritten, you nice sir!"
Hernández is not the only member of the Dodgers organization opting out of the Washington trip. Superstar teammate Mookie Betts is also expected to miss the July 23 event. Betts previously garnered attention in 2019 when he declined to visit the White House with the Boston Red Sox during Donald Trump's presidency. Hernández has been vocal about his opposition to Trump's immigration policies.
White House visits for championship sports teams, once a customary celebration, have become increasingly politicized in recent years. The decision by Hernández to share the fan's personal information has drawn a line for some, with commentary suggesting that doxxing a fan over a critique crosses an unacceptable boundary.