Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández gestures to fans after hitting a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, June 7, 2024, in New York. Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández hits a double against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, June 7, 2024, in New York.
Hernández had a microphone and earpiece in his left ear as he spoke with Wayne Randazzo and former big pitcher Dontrelle Willis on the broadcast. After talking about Hernández’s decision to wear colorful cleats and the atmosphere in the ballpark, there was one out, no one on and a 1-2 count on Gleyber Torres when Willis asked: “You guys are very close-knit ballclub. Where does that come from?”The ball hit Hernández on his bare right hand and ricocheted off his groin.
Asked after the game whether the interview impacted him on the play, Hernández responded: “Maybe a little bit, but I think I let the ball eat me up. It had a weird hop.”“No, because we’re getting paid,” he said. “I like money.” Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement calls for a player to receive a $10,000 stipend for wearing a two-way microphone for at least one inning of a regular-season game. The amount rises to $15,000 in the postseason.“To each his own,” he said with a smile.