Kiké Hernandez wears his banana suit in the dugout during the Dodgers’ 5-4, 14-innings victory on Aug. 31. (Sarah Reingewirtz/Staff photographer)
This is Part 22 of a series in which every member of the 2015 Dodgers has his season juxtaposed with an episode of the greatest sitcom of all-time. Don’t take it too seriously.
Kiké Hernandez, utility
Key stats: .307/.346/.490 in 218 plate appearances (76 games), .974 fielding percentage over five different positions.
Seinfeld episode: “The Puffy Shirt.” (Season 5, Episode 2)
Key quote: “Is that what you’re wearing?”
Hernandez started the regular season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He spent 16 games there, getting the big-league call for the first and last time when Carl Crawford went down with a right oblique strain. Of all the Opening Day Oklahoma City Dodgers, none had a larger impact in the majors this season than Hernandez.
Hernandez filled in at five different positions, more than any of his teammates. Almost all were older; Hernandez turned 24 in August. He was also the only Dodger who finished the season with a batting average above .300 in 200-plus plate appearances, and one of four with an OPS above .800. More than just a throw-in to the Howie Kendrick/Chris Hatcher/Austin Barnes swap, Hernandez passed Joc Pederson — a Rookie of the Year candidate prior to the All-Star break — on the center field depth chart in the second half.
In the National League Division Series, Hernandez’s 15 plate appearances were the sixth-most on the team. That Hernandez reached base six times is impressive; maybe a little more so knowing he needed surgery on his shoulder immediately after the season.
Assuming the surgery was as minor as advertised, Hernandez should be able to pick up in spring training where he left off. Given his jack-of-all-trades nature, it isn’t entirely clear where that is. He might be part of a time-share at second base with Chase Utley and/or Jose Peraza. He might be part of a center-field platoon with Pederson. He might back up Justin Turner at third base. He might be all of the above. That’s how many doors Hernandez opened for himself in 2015.
And yet, none of this is what you’ll remember him for.
Like a comic book character inspired by Harry Belafonte, Hernandez morphed into the Banana Man. The origin of the character is rather simple: Hernandez waved a banana in the dugout during a game in May and the Dodgers rallied to win. Thanks to social media, the fact that the banana is the nation’s most popular fruit, and that a simple narrative can engulf a relatively drama-free team, the Rally Banana became a phenomenon. Hernandez enabled it all by embracing his alter ego. Fans embraced it, too.
“The Puffy Shirt” was a solid episode. George moves in with his parents. Kramer dates a low-talker. George begins his hand modeling career, but it suffers a violent ending. Bryant Gumbel guests. This is what you’ll remember:
In each case, one man’s sartorial choices overwhelmed the rest of the episode. One garment ended up in the National Museum of American History. The other still has time.
