Kiké Hernández's Postseason Prowess Rivals 'Mr. October' Legend
Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernández etched his name further into postseason lore with his 17th career playoff home run, drawing comparisons to Reggie Jackson.
Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernández is making a strong case for his own "Mr. October" moniker, following up his latest historic playoff performance. Hernández hit a two-run home run off Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale in the fourth inning of the Dodgers' 3-1 victory in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday.
This latest blast marked Hernández's 17th career postseason home run, placing him among the top 20 home run hitters in MLB history and just one behind the legendary Reggie Jackson, the original "Mr. October." Hernández's consistent success in the playoffs has moved beyond mere hot streaks and has become a defining aspect of his identity as a player.
Further highlighting Hernández's unique October performance, he is the only player in MLB history with at least 100 career home runs (regular season and postseason combined) to have more than 10 percent of them occur in the playoffs. This is particularly notable given his .706 career regular-season OPS, which contrasts with his .826 OPS in October games.
Hernández himself has attributed his postseason success, in part, to his ability to harness his Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) into a hyper-focused state during the high-pressure environment of the playoffs. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged this impact, stating after the game, "We needed a little bit of that Kiké dust."
Batting ninth in his first start of the current playoffs, Hernández delivered in a crucial moment, connecting on Sale's second pitch in the fourth inning. Sale later admitted it was the pitch he most regretted.
With 12 postseason home runs as a Dodger, Hernández is fourth in franchise history for playoff homers, trailing only Corey Seager and Justin Turner. Should he hit another, he will tie Jackson, and a subsequent home run would place him ahead of the iconic slugger, further solidifying his claim to the "Mr. October" legacy.