Teoscar Hernandez Sends Message to Phillies Player After Career News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Jan 8, 2026 5:58 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez endured a down year in 2025, though he still capped it off with a second straight World Series title.

The 33-year-old veteran posted a .247 batting average, .284 on-base percentage and .738 OPS with 25 home runs and 89 RBIs across 134 games.

It marked a clear drop-off from his 2024 campaign, when he earned both an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award. The decline came immediately after Los Angeles signed him to a three-year, $66 million extension, raising questions about his long-term value.

As a result, the Dodgers opened the door to trade offers for Hernandez. Yet for now, it appears the right-handed slugger will remain part of Los Angeles’ outfield mix heading into 2026.

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37)Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Away from the diamond, Hernandez has still found ways to make headlines this MLB offseason. This week, he showed support for fellow Dominican standout Bryan de la Cruz, who was officially named MVP of the 2025–26 Dominican Winter League after a dominant season with Toros del Este.

De La Cruz is currently a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, who signed him to a minor league contract with a spring training invite back in November.

Hernandez, proud of his Dominican roots, celebrated the achievement by sending De La Cruz a message on social media. “Congratulations my brother,” he wrote in Spanish on his Instagram story, accompanied by emojis.

The gesture underscored the camaraderie between Dominican players who continue to shine both in MLB and winter ball. For De La Cruz, the MVP award elevates his profile as he prepares for the 2026 season with the Phillies, hopeful to crack the Opening Day roster.

De La Cruz has struggled to find consistent playing time in MLB. His best season came in 2021 when he debuted with the Miami Marlins and posted a .296 batting average, .356 on-base percentage and .783 OPS across 58 games.

For Hernandez, the message reflected not only national pride but also encouragement for a player with similar roots reaching a career milestone, even as he works to rebound from his own challenging year in Los Angeles.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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