Hernández Praises Diaz's Resilience After Dodgers Save

Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernández shared his admiration for teammate Edwin Diaz after Diaz recorded a save in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. The save marked Diaz's first since August, signifying a moment of resilience for the pitcher who has faced early adversity in his Dodgers career.

Hernández, a longtime friend of Diaz, spoke about the significance of the save, emphasizing Diaz's hard work. "This year, it was a very difficult year," Hernández said. "It’s very easy to put the year aside, and he worked his a— off to get to this point."

The save came after the Dodgers had built a lead, with both Hernández and Freddie Freeman contributing home runs in the third inning. Diaz entered the game with the lead, and despite allowing a leadoff double, he settled in to retire the next three batters to secure the win.

Diaz signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason to anchor the bullpen. However, his tenure has been marked by injuries and struggles, concluding the regular season with an 8.68 ERA and converting seven of eleven save opportunities. Following an injury stint between August and September, Diaz made adjustments to his pitching mechanics. In his subsequent five relief appearances, he allowed only one hit, no runs, and recorded nine strikeouts.

"For him, it was one slight mechanical adjustment that he needed to do, that he didn’t realize," Hernández commented on Diaz's turnaround. Hernández also noted the rarity of playing alongside fellow Puerto Rican players in the league, expressing a bond with Diaz, whom he has known since before the pitcher was drafted.