“Superspecial” for Puerto Rican Kike Hernandez play for compatriot Alex Cora in Boston

The idea of ​​taking the position defended by a Boston fan favorite, such as retired midfielder Dustin Pedroia, puts no pressure on the newest member of the Boston Red Sox, Puerto Rican Enrique ‘Kike’ Hernandez. for he knows that he has the talent, personality, and energy to quickly win over the tough Boston fanatic. And he proved it with the Dodgers for six seasons.

The important thing when signing with the champions of the 2018 World Series was to have a team with which he had time to play daily and at the same time be a competitive team, in addition to the idea of ​​playing under the direction of his compatriot Alex Cora.

That’s why Hernandez agreed to a two-year, $ 14 million pact with the Red Sox, who officially unveiled it on Tuesday.

“We were looking for $ 100 million, but no one wanted to give it to me,” Hernandez, 29, said by phone with his well-known playful personality. “We were looking for a team where I could play every day even if it was a year or two to bet on me and be able to put numbers and then enter free agency (for the second time) at 30 or 31 and try to get a big contract “.

“At the same time I wanted to be on a competitive team. I didn’t want to be on a team under reconstruction. I know everyone is ruling out Boston off the map, but I understand that this franchise and the fanatics in this city have high expectations of their players, and that they weren’t going to want to be out of the playoffs for long, and that’s why we decided to sign here for two years. “

He described as “superspecial” the opportunity to play for Cora, whom he has known since he was 10, and his father of the same name, was coach of the Caguas Creoles. In addition, the presence of other boricuas like receiver Christian Vázquez, coach Ramón Vázquez and others known to him as batting instructor Tim Hyers, and bank coach Will Venable, help him not to feel like ‘the new’ in the team.

I know if I play the way I can play, the fan base will open my arms just like it did in Los Angeles. I’m going to do my job and do a couple of antics to keep the clubhouse relaxed

–Kike Hernandez

“That of Pedroia, it doesn’t put any pressure on me. He’s been unable to play for several years. It’s not that they took him out of the team for me to come into play,” he said. “I played six years with the Dodgers when Kike Hernandez was nobody and had the highest payroll of any major league and I came in, made the team and settled down. That never intimidated me. I know that if game the way I can play, the fanaticism is going to open my arms just like it happened in Los Angeles. I’m going to do my job and do a couple of antics to keep the clubhouse relaxed. “

Hernandez said the Boston roster is not “as bad a team as the press wants it to look. There’s a very good player. Yes, at best we lack a bit of pitching, but when your horse (Chris Surt) is out you have to wait for him to come back by then accommodating the missing piece or two pieces. And I understand that we are not far from being a team that is going to give problems to everyone. Right now we have good position players and little by little they have been adding pitching to keep us in the fight, so we will see what happens. “

This one assured that his sparkling and joking personality was not a phenomenon seen only in the dugout of the Dodgers, because this is him. And he says that anyone who has known him since he was a child knows that he has always been the same. And it will continue to be so.

“It’s me and I can’t stop being it. No matter where I go. The uniform changes, the mustache changes … whatever. But wherever I am I’m the same,” he explained. “I learned. I played in Miami for a month. I came in as a rookie, in the middle of the season and I felt pretty uncomfortable. I found it hard to be myself because I didn’t know anyone and I was a rookie. And I couldn’t produce. to one to produce, one must be comfortable.One must be oneself and those who do not like it, so look at ‘pal lao’.

Sleepy but happy to go to bed late for your baby

Meanwhile, the also a member of the Ros Team of the 2017 World Baseball Classic enjoys every day, especially the nights, caring for his newborn daughter. Hernandez and his wife Mariana Vicente became parents on January 15.

The player said that at the same time being a father has only affected him in the sense that he gives her sleep during the day. But he knows that being a father is a blessing.

“I really feel super happy and ‘enchulao’ my baby. It’s a blessing because that’s our duty to the world, procreate, start a family and leave your seed,” he said confidently.

She already thinks that when the season starts and the road trips start, she will not be able to help Mariana take care of her daughter as she has done so far, but she is sure that she will find a way to always be present with technology. . And he is confident that the returns home after each game will be the sweetest.

“But I’m excited and ready. I’m already crazy for spring training to arrive and start getting my hands on it,” Hernandez said.

“I’m going to get there as if I’m going to play second base nothing else, but that’s been my life for the past seven years. I’m going to be practicing in other positions to stay ‘sharp.’ the second, center field … maybe I’ll play the corners of the outfield, I’ll give the free days to (Xander) Bogaerts and I imagine I’ll play third too.I’m always ready for whatever position.After I’m in the lineup opening the game, I don’t care. The goal is to start every day no matter the position, “he concluded.