“Super special” for Puerto Rican Kike Hernández to play for fellow countryman Alex Cora in Boston

The idea of ​​taking the position defended by a Boston fan favorite, such as retired second baseman Dustin Pedroia, doesn’t put pressure on the newest member of the Boston Red Sox, Puerto Rican Enrique ‘Kike’ Hernández, he knows that he did. the talent, personality and energy to quickly win over a tough Boston fan base. And he proved it with the Dodgers for six seasons.

The most important thing in signing with the 2018 World Series champions was having a team that he played with on a daily basis while being a competitive team in addition to the idea of ​​playing under the leadership of his countryman. Alex Cora.

So Hernandez agreed to a two-year $ 14 million deal with the Red Sox, which it officially revealed on Tuesday.

“We were looking for $ 100 million, but nobody wanted to give it to me,” Hernández, 29, with his well-known humorous personality, said over the phone. “We were looking for a team where I could play every day, even if it was one or two years to bet on myself and be able to put in numbers and then (for the second time) free agency. enter at 30 or 31 years old and try to get a big contract ”.

“At the same time, I wanted to be in a competitive team. He didn’t want to be on a reconstruction team. I know everyone writes Boston off the map, but I understand that that franchise and the fans in that city have high hopes for their players, and they wouldn’t want to stay out of the playoffs for long, which is why we decided to to sign there for two years ”.

He described as “super special” the chance to play for Cora, whom he has known since he was 10 years old, and his father of the same name, who coached the Criollos de Caguas. In addition, the presence of other Puerto Ricans such as receiver Christian Vázquez, coach Ramón Vázquez and others he knows, such as batting instructor Tim Hyers and bench coach Will Venable, helps him not to feel ‘the new’ in the team.

I know if I play the way I can play, the fans will open their arms to me, just like what happened in Los Angeles. I’m going to do my job and do a few antics to keep the clubhouse relaxed

–Kike Hernandez

“The Pedroia thing, it doesn’t put any pressure on me. He hasn’t been able to play for several years. It’s not that they removed him from the team so I could play, ‘he said. “I played with the Dodgers for six years when Kike Hernández was nobody and had the highest payroll in all the major leagues and I came, made the team and settled. That never intimidated me. I know if I play the way I can play, the fans will open their arms to me, just like what happened in Los Angeles. I’m going to do my job and do a few antics to keep the clubhouse relaxed. “

Hernández He said the Boston squad “isn’t as bad a team as the press wants it to look. There is a lot of good player. Yes, we might miss pitching a bit, but when your horse (Chris Sale) is out you have to wait for him to come back and then accommodate the missing piece or two. And I understand that we are not far from a team that is going to cause problems for everyone. Right now we have good position players and little by little they have added pitching to keep us in the fight, so we’ll see what happens ”.

He assured that his bubbly and joking personality wasn’t a phenomenon only seen in the Dodgers dugout, because he is. And he makes sure that everyone who has known him from childhood knows that he has always been the same. And will continue.

“I am myself and I cannot stop it. Doesn’t matter where you go. The uniform changes, the mustache changes … whatever. But wherever I am, I am the same, ”he said. “I learned. I played in Miami for a month. I came in as a rookie in the middle of the season and I was very uncomfortable. It was hard for me to be myself because I didn’t know anyone and I was a rookie. And I could not produce I understood that someone to produce has to be comfortable You have to be yourself and the one who doesn’t like it so look at ‘pal lao’.

Sleepy but happy to stay up late for her baby

Meanwhile, another member of Team Rubio of the 2017 World Baseball Classic enjoys taking care of his newborn daughter every day, especially nights. Hernández and his wife Mariana Vicente became parents on January 15.

The player said he is only in the sense that it makes him sleepy during the day at this point. But he knows that being a father is a blessing.

“I feel really happy and ‘pissed off’ with my baby. It is a blessing because this is our duty in the world: to procreate, to have a family and to leave your seed, ”he said with a certain tone.

He already thinks that when the season kicks in and the ‘road trips’ begin, he won’t be able to help Mariana take care of her daughter as he has so far, but he’s sure he will find a way to always be there . with technology. And he is absolutely certain that returning home after every game will be the sweetest.

‘But I’m excited and ready. I’m already crazy because spring training is coming and I’m starting to get my hands on it, ”said Hernández.

“I’m going to get there like I’m just going to play second base, but that’s been my life for the past seven years. I’m going to practice in other positions to stay sharp. They told me that I would often play second, midfield… maybe I play the corners of the outfield, I give (Xander) Bogaerts days off and I imagine I will play third as well. I am always ready for whatever position it is. After I’m in the lineup to open the game, I don’t care. The goal is to start every day, regardless of position, ”he concludes.