He isn’t a product of the Dodgers system; he was actually drafted by the Astros in the 6th round in 2009. He started his pro career in the Gulf League, a rookie level team. He was 17 years old. He showed versatility from the beginning playing SS and 2B primarily. He played in 53 games his first-year batting .295/1/27. He had 8 steals, 12 doubles and 3 triples. He struck out 28 times and drew 10 walks.
He made it to the majors in 2014 at 22 years old. He played in 24 games for the Astros and then at the deadline, July 31, 2014, he and Jared Cosart and a minor leaguer named Austin Wells, were traded to the Miami Marlins for Jake Marisnick, Francis Martes, Colin Moran and a 2015 competitive balance pick in round A. Overall in 42 games with the two teams, he batted .248 with 3 homers and 14 RBIs. He struck out 21 times and walked 12.
That December, he was part of the first major trade made by Andrew Freidman. LA traded Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas and cash to Miami for Chris Hatcher, Austin Barnes, Andrew Heaney and Enrique. Few Dodgers fans have ever called him that, to them, he is simply Kike.
His father was a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates, his mother, who is Cuban, owns a boutique in Puerto Rico. Kike as he is called, started playing baseball at the age of six. He would compete in international tournaments in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. He attended school at the American Military Academy in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He was just 5’6″ his junior year, but he grew 5″ during his senior year.
The Astros drafted him in 2009 in the sixth round at just 17 years old. He received a 150,000-dollar bonus. His MLB debut came in 2014 against the Mariners on July 1. He got two hits, his first being a ground-rule double off of Dominic Leone. The next day, he hit his first homer off of Chris Young, yep, the same Chris Young who is now running the Rangers.
Freidman had acquired the versatile player to be a late inning defensive replacement at second, third, SS and the outfield. He played 20 games at 2nd, 1 at 3rd, 16 at SS and 34 in the outfield where he appeared at all three positions. What wasn’t expected was the .307/7/22 with a .836 OPS offense. He played in all five games of the LDS loss to the Mets going 4-13. He had no extra base hits and did not drive in a run.
Kike was very energetic and sort of a clubhouse cutup. He reveled at getting a laugh out of teammates. One time he showed up in a banana suit. If he had a fault at the plate, it was that at times, he became pull happy. This resulted in increased Ks.
In 2016, he played in 109 games, once more as the super-sub, but his BA plummeted to .190. He hit 7 homers and drove in 18. He was 0-8 in the LCS against the Cubs. He did not play in the LDS against the Nationals.
In 2017, it was more of the same. He got into 140 games. His BA improved 25 points to .215. He hit 11 homers and drove in 37. His OPS improved to .729, his K rate increased to about 2-1. His OBP though was barely above .300. In the postseason, the fans love affair with him began to get bigger. He was 1-3 against Az in the LDS, then he hit .444 against the Cubs in the LCS crushing 3 homers and driving in 7 in game six. The MVP award though went to Chris Taylor and Justin Turner. He got 16 plate appearances in the World Series loss, but was just 3-12 in the series with 1 driven in.
In 2018, Kike played in 145 games, the bulk of them, 87 in the outfield. 63 of those came as the centerfielder. He posted a 3.4 WAR, highest of his career to that point, slashed .256/.336/.470 with 21 homers, 52 driven in and a .806 OPS. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, those numbers did not translate into postseason play. He was 5-41, .121, with 2 homers and 3 driven in.
In 2019, he played in 130 games. His slash line was .237/.304/.411 with 17 homers and 64 driven in. The bad was that he struck out 97 times and walked just 36. He was 3-7 in the LDS loss to the Nationals, with a homer and 3 driven home. He also had a double.
In 2020, Kike got into 48 of the Dodgers 60 games. He hit .230 with 5 homers and 20 RBIs. He struck out 31 times and walked just 6. He played 30 of those games at 2nd base. In the playoffs, he was simply a defensive replacement against the Brewers in both games. He was 0-5 against the Padres. He was 4-13 against the Braves with 2 solo homers and 2 driven in. The most important of which was his game tying PH solo shot off of AJ Mintner in the 6th inning of game 7. Bellinger hit the winning homer the next inning off of Chris Martin. When doing an arm bump with Bellinger, Bellinger dislocated his shoulder.
In the World Series against Tampa, Kike was just 2-10. He did drive in 2 runs and scored 1. Kike had signed a 1-year deal prior to the 2020 season avoiding arbitration. For whatever reason, the Dodgers decided to let Kike become a free agent so he could pursue a starting job elsewhere. Gavin Lux was due to become the starter at 2nd base in 21, and Chris Taylor was their super sub. He would be the last player to wear #14 as it was retired in June of 2022 after Dodger great Gil Hodges finally made it into the Hall as a player.
On the 2nd of February in 21, he signed a 2-year-14-million-dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox. Initially he was the Sox starting CF. He would play in 134 games for the Sox. He posted his highest WAR ever at 4.9. He slashed .250/.347/.449 with a .786 OPS, 20 homers and 60 driven in. He set a career high with 35 doubles. He struck out 110 times and walked 61. Not used as much as a utility player, he played 93 games in the outfield.
In the postseason, he was a combined 20-52, .384 with 5 homers and 9 driven in. By far his best postseason performance ever. Boston still lost to the Astros in the ALCS, 4-2. In 23, his stats nosedived. In his defense, he went on the IL on June 8th with a flexor strain. He returned August 16th. The Sox signed him to a 1-year extension for 10 million on September 6th. In 93 games he slashed .222/.291/.338. He hit 6 homers and drove in 45.
At the beginning of 2023, longtime SS Xavier Bogaerts had left in free agency and Kike became a leader in the Sox clubhouse. He was also instrumental in recruiting Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen to the Sox. With Bogaerts gone, and Story on the IL, Kike was the opening day SS. After 46 games and a league leading 14 errors, he was removed from the position. He mostly played 2nd the rest of his time with the Sox, but injuries put him back at SS for a while. He played in 86 games for Boston, hitting .222 with 6 homers and 31 driven in. On July 25th, the Sox traded him back to the Dodgers for Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman.
Back with LA, Kike was issued #8 because #14 was retired when Hodges went into the Hall. He would play 54 games with LA hitting .262 with 5 homers and 30 driven in. He was 3-8 in LA’s 3 game LDS loss to the D-Backs. In 24, it was back to his role as a super sub, and as in many seasons before, he played multiple positions during the year, including 4 stints as a relief pitcher in blowout games. His ERA was 4.15 in 4.1 innings. At the plate, it was a typical Kike season, .229/.281/.373 with 12 homers and 42 RBI’s. His K ratio was close to 3-1 striking out 77 times to 27 walks.
He had a solid postseason run, 15-51, .294 with 2 homers and 6 RBIs, and LA won its 8th World Series. Kike also gained some not-so-great attention when he muttered the F word on live TV. But the fans still loved the guy and showed that love at the parade and gathering downtown. He got some of the loudest cheers.
In 2025, Kike only played in 92 games. He spent time on the IL with inflammation in his elbow. He said it affected his swing. His BA dropped to .203. He did manage to hit 10 homers and drive in 35. In the post season, he was 4-8 in the Wild Card series with the Reds. He had a double and an RBI. Against the Phillies in the LDS, 3-14 with a double and 3 driven in. He was 4-14 against the Brewers in the LCS. 2 doubles and no RBIs. In the World Series against Toronto, he went 5-28 with a homer and 3 driven in. His biggest contribution was on defense, where he ran in caught a fly ball in game six at Toronto and fired to Miggy Ro for a game-ending double play. And also, for getting run over by Andy Pages game saving catch in game seven.
Kike underwent elbow surgery in the offseason for torn muscle in his left elbow. LA resigned him and he is supposed to come off of the 60-day-IL sometime in May. One thing is for certain, the fans at Dodger Stadium will give him a rousing welcome the first time he appears at home. Kike is and remains, a fan favorite.
MiLB Game Summary Reports
OKC Comets 3 – Round Rock Express (Texas) 2
LHSP Jackson Ferris pitched his best game in AAA. He completed 5.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, 2 BB, and 4 K. Unfortunately 3 of the four hits, and one of the walks came in the 4th inning, scoring 2. He left after 5 trailing 2-1.
OKC scored their first run in the 5th. The put together three singles by 2B Austin Gauthier, LF Jack Suwinski, and C Chuckie Robinson.
In the 7th, Suwinski hit his 7th HR, and the Comets tied it up.
In the 9th, DH Tyler Fitzgerald doubled, and came home after a couple of ground balls.
After Ferris departed, RHRP Carlos Duran, RHRP Brock Stewart, and RHRP Wyatt Mills pitched the final four innings. Only one batter reached base via a BB. Stewart pitched to one batter, with a runner on base, and that was his back to back outing.
Jack Suwinski and SS Noah Miller were the two OKC with 2 hits.
San Antonio Missions (Padres) 5 – Tulsa Drillers 4
RHSP Patrick Copen completed 5.0 scoreless innings on 2 hits and 1 BB. In the 6th, Copen struck out the first two batters, but then HBP the next. He walked the next batter, and the next batter got an infield single. However, two unearned runs scored on the errant throw. Overall, Copen pitched 6.0 innings, allowing 2 unearned runs, 3 hits, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 6 strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 0.96
Tulsa scored the first run in the 4th on SS Elijah Hainline’s 3rd HR. Tulsa tied the score in the 7th on three singles by C Griffin Lockwood-Powell, LF Chris Newell, and 2B Sean McLain.
LHRP Christian Suarez pitched the next three innings. He did not allow a run, on 2 hits, and 1 K.
The game went into extra innings. Neither team scored in the 10th.
In the 11th, with RHRP Lucas Wepf on the hill, with the placed runner, he got the first two outs, but allowed a 2-run HR.
In the bottom of the 11th, GLP hit a game tying 2-run HR.
RHRP Kelvin Ramirez pitched the 12th. The placed runner moved to third on a sac bunt, and scored on a sac fly.
Tulsa could not score in the 12th and fell to the Express 5-4.
Hainline and GLP were the only Tulsa hitters with 2 hits, and with their two HR, were the only hitters with XBH.
Great Lakes Loons 6 – Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) 3 – Game 1, 7 Innings
CF Charles Davalan hit a lead off HR (5) to give Great Lakes a lead they would not relinquish.
Davalan opened the third with a BB, and not to be outdone, RF Mike Sirota slugged a 2-run HR (3). But neither were done.
After 3.0 scoreless innings, LHSP Sterling Patick seemingly lost in in the 4th. The first 4 batters reached, 2 via BB, and 2 singles. After a sac fly, the Chiefs had scored 2. After Patick walked the next batter, he left with the bases loaded, 1 out, and a 3-2 lead.
RHRP Davis Chastain relieved Patick and got the final two outs without any other runner crossing the plate.
In the bottom of the 4th, after the first 2 batters were retired, Davalan hit his second solo HR (6).
Chastain allowed an unearned run in the 5th.
Sirota hit his 2nd HR in the 6th (4). The Loons scored another run (unearned) giving them a 6-3 lead going into the 7th. LHRP Cody Morse pitched a scoreless 7th for his first save.
- Mike Sirota – 3-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 HR (4)
- Charles Davalan – 2-3, 1 BB, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR (6)
SS Jose Izarra had the other XBH, a double (3).
Great Lakes Loons 5 – Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) 3 – Game 2, 7 Innings
RHSP Brooks Auger started and completed 3.0 innings. In the 1st, he gave up a one out BB, and he scored on a 2-out double.
With one out in the 1st, CF Mike Sirota hit his 3rd HR of the day and 5th overall. With 2 out, 2B Logan Wagner doubled and RF Jose Meza singled home Wagner for a 2-1 lead.
LHRP Jacob Frost entered in the 4th. He allowed a leadoff BB. A SB, WP, and single scored the tying run.
GL took the lead back in the bottom of the 4th. C Victor Rodrigues drew a BB and scored on SS Jordan Thompson’s double (1).
The Chiefs tied it up again in the 6th with a HR off of Frost.
GL scored two in the bottom of the 6th, Meza and Rodrigues led off with walks. Thompson reached on a force out. Meza scored on the throwing error. Singles by 1B Samuel Munoz and LF Charles Davalan brought home Thompson and a 5-3 lead.
Frost finished his 4th inning by striking out the side. Overall, Frost completed 4.0 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 BB, and 8K.
Logan Wagner had two doubles, and was the only Loon to have 2 hits.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 9 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 3
Ontario scored twice in the first inning. 2B Mairo Martinus led off with a double (5). Martinus scored on SS Emil Morales’ 10th double. Morales moved to 3rd on a ground ball, and scored on RF Ching-Hsien Ko’s sac fly.
RHSP Marlon Nieves did not allow a run or hit the first 3.0 innings. But he did surrender 2 walks and a HBP. In the 4th, Nieves got the first out, but then came 2 singles and a 3-run HR. RHRP Jholbran Herder finished the 4th and pitched a scoreless 5th.
In the bottom of the 5th, 1B Jose D. Hernandez led off the inning with a double (3). He moved to 3B on a F-9, and scored on a fielder’s choice.
RHRP Domingo German pitched a scoreless 6th, but with traffic.
With RHRP Jhonny Jimenez pitching the 7th, the Storm scored 1 on three walks and a single.
Inland Empire broke it open in the 9th with 5 runs.
Six Ontario pitchers combined for 9 runs on 9 hits and 16 BB.
Emil Morales was the lone Ontario hitter with 2 hits.
Sheehan Vs Liberatore in St. Louis tonight. Ohtani will be back leading off and being the DH most likely.
Let’s show these fans what top level baseball looks like.
Oso tengo mucho gusto de saludarle de nuevo, estoy viendo la transmisión del juego de los Dodgers en San Luis, noto a la mayoría de los jugadores apático, quizá enfermo, con problemas particulares pero se notan flojos y desmotivados, todo esto desde la serie contra San Francisco. Acaso es un slump de bateo colectivo? Casi no conectan o contactos muy flojos, me puede dar su opinión?
I wish Kiki the best this year, but I hope it is his last year with the Dodgers to give other kids like Kim and Freeland a chance to play next year. The way the roster is currently constructed there are few opportunities for younger players.
It will be his last. Rojas too. Squeeze a little more juice out of the core.
It probably is his last year. Edman has three years left on his deal, and he would be a better choice as the super-sub.
Can’t say I’m enamored with Kiké. I thought it was time to move on from him. He hasn’t had an OPS+ over 100 since ‘21. Playoffs? Maybe in the past. Not last year.
I feel the same with Edman really. No OPS over 100 since ’22. Both he and Kiké are .230 hitters who might slug .390 and get on base at .300 if they’re lucky. But, they are veterans with post season experience. If Freeland could hit the Dodgers would look better at utility with him and Kim. Alas, bring on the convalescing veterans and make the team even older. Yeah, I’ve said it ain’t about older it’s about better, but will it make the team better? Obviously I have my doubts.
Davalan and Sirota put on a show yesterday at A+ Great Lakes. with Davalan’s 2 homeruns and Sirota’s 3 homeruns in the doubleheader. Both were technically part of the trade with the Reds last year for Gavin Lux.
But Lux has helped the Reds immensely, right? Whoops!
Isn’t Lux on the IL with the Rays?
He has not played yet this year.
Insane.
In 2-3 years we’ll have sone OF options!
Sirota with the eady oppo power. And Chuck D just xame to hit.
Brock Stewart pitched on Wednesday and Thursday at AAA Oklahoma City and should be ready to come off the IL.
Ready for him
He probably will come off the IL on Monday against Houston.
I don’t think the Dodgers brought Kike back for the fans. He is beloved by his teammates… immensely. He keeps them loose and energized. This may… or may not be his last year. I guess it depends on the process and result this year.
I am pretty sure a couple of the players openly campaigned to bring him back. But this will be his last year.
Stuff we old guys already know:
“The likelihood of MLB players over the age of 32 being injured again is extremely high, with industry consensus indicating that staying healthy becomes significantly more challenging past 30. For pitchers in particular, injuries are now viewed as a “near inevitability” due to the relentless pursuit of maximum velocity and increased physical stress.
Key Factors for Older Player Injuries – Accelerated. Aging Curve: Performance decline and injury risk accelerate significantly in a player’s 30s, particularly around age 32-33, often leading to reduced velocity and bat speed.
Pitching Velocity Epidemic: As pitch velocity increases, so does stress on the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL), with injury risk rising by roughly 15-20% for every 1 mph increase.
Prior History Predictor: Research within MLB indicates that a pitcher’s previous injury history is a key predictor for future injury.Recurrence Rates: Rotator cuff injuries have a high recurrence rate, with approximately 19% recurring within 5 years.
The “Age 32-33” Threshold: While elite athletes are physically exceptional, it is difficult to maintain peak physical condition after 30, making players over 32 susceptible to chronic wear-and-tear injuries.
High Recurrence Risk: Data suggests that once an MLB player is injured, the risk of sustaining a subsequent injury remains high.Age and Time Lost: Age has a direct impact on time lost due to injuries; in MLB, each additional year of age is associated with an increase in days lost per injury.
Position Specific Risks: Pitchers are particularly vulnerable, with injury rates exceeding 30% in recent years (2022-2023).
Return to Play Rates: For specific injuries like shoulder labral repairs in professional baseball players, the rate of returning to the previous level of performance is roughly 45% for pitchers and 38% for position players.
Recurrent Injuries: Re-injury, specifically in areas like the hamstring, is common, leading to longer periods of missed time compared to initial time loss due to injury.”
Summary: those who get hurt will get hurt again. Those who haven’t been hurt – it’s just a matter of time. There are not now nor will there ever be another Cal Ripken or Nolan Ryan. Baseball is now about ballistics, and throughout history ballistics have never been good for the human body.
what is this and where is it from?
Great post Badger.
Why? Don’t you find it believable?
What is is obvious. It was found with a simple AI search.
Believable?
Sure, people break down. But that’s not really relevant in the abstract.
If you don’t mind me asking, what was your query?
Sure.
Something along the lines of what percentage of mlb players over 32 get injured and re-injured.
It was offered as food for thought considering our roster. One of my interests in college was sports medicine and spent a lot of hours studying physiology of exercise. That was nearly 50 years ago. Things have changed. But what hasn’t changed is the prime age for MLB players and that is still before 30. What also hasn’t changed is the need for recovery.
Last night’s MiLB Game Reports are updated above.
Thanks, Jeff, missed all of those games.
Friday’s Dodgers’ Affiliates’ Schedule
3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Logan Tabeling) vs.Peoria (Yhoiker Fajardo)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Payton Martin) vs. San Antonio (Jagger Haynes)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) at Round Rock (Trey Supak)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Lake Elsinore (Kruz Schoolcraft)
What a name for Lake Elsinore
The current records and standings for the four Dodgers affiliates :
Oklahoma City AAA 14-16 4th place
Tulsa AA 16-8 1st place
Great Lakes A+ 16-8 1st place
Ontario A 11-12 3rd place
News around the league: Paul DeJong opted out of his deal with the Yankees and is a free agent. He was hitting just .203 at AAA. Cardinals DFAd LHRP Luis Peralta, fellow lefty, Jared Shuster was called up to take his place. Arizona DFAd C, Aramis Garcia and activated Gabriel Moreno from the 10-day IL. Tigers acquired Inf. Zack Short from the Nationals for cash or a PTBNL. He was assigned to AAA Toledo. Nats signed Max Kranick to a deal. Formerly a Met and also with the Pirates. Braves DFAd Joel Payamps and Jose Suarez.
Brewers placed Woodruf on the IL with shoulder inflammation.
Ryan Pepiot out for year with hip surgery.
Won’t be able to see the Dodger/Cardinal series as it’s blacked out in my area. It gets so old with all these blackouts and special streaming channels.
Cardinals are playing well and they get to see our back end of our rotation. Bats need to step up on this road trip. After this we go to Houston for 3 then a big early season series with Atlanta at home.
Can’t watch the Cardinals broadcasts? At least when they play the Rockies I get the Rockies channel on Spectrum.
Nope Brewers and Cardinals games are blacked out in my area. Might have to try an illegal streaming site but sometimes it works and other times it’s shitty.
That does suck. Not sure what else you can do. Someone once told me I should get a VPN which allows you to watch blacked out games. Not sure how that works though.
8:15 PM ET
Dodgers (20-11)
Cardinals (18-13)
SP Emmet Sheehan R
2-0 4.78 ERA
SP M. Liberatore L
0-1 4.75 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
LF T. Hernandez R
RF Kyle Tucker L
CF Andy Pages R
3B Max Muncy L
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B S. Espinal R
63° Wind 3 mph L-R
The Arizona Complex League begins tomorrow May 2nd with Dodger Affiliate playing the Seattle Affiliate at 2PM ET.
Is it too soon to say the game is over? I really wish it weren’t, but given how the Dodgers have been playing, especially offensively (which one?), I think three runs will be enough for St. Louis to win the entire series, not just one game.
O you of little faith
For those of you who can’t watch certain games because you are in the blackout area, get this:
https://www.expressvpn.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqSjJYNbvbRclTKi2GsvE9DXiGxO7TRLniLUvj-RbaXQEPoX4y0
After you have downloaded it, and then instead of going to a website, when you log in, you go to the VPM and pick a location (far away). Then log in. Next, you watch the game.
Easy Peasy.
What advice do you have for us who have watched the game and wished we hadn’t?
I thought that they recommended a frontal lobotomy, but I heard a “bottle in front of me.”
Enriquez y Teo, vaya par de jugadores, el primero no está para GL, y el segundo es un apático.
Translation: Enriquez and Teo, what a pair of players; the first one isn’t Big League material, and the second one is apathetic/lazy.
Go root for another team.
Bonita solución la tuya
Just terrible AB’s. Tucker not wearing it on a hanging curve. Pages swinging at Ball 4 twice. Rojas chasing on a guy struggling to throw strikes. Kim then swinging at a pitch nowhere near the strike zone to start O-1. Ohtani looking at strike 3 after missing a ball tee’d up.
They all hit… or nobody hits!
Watching Tucker makes me pine for Bellinger. And I didn’t much like Cody
I have a nephew in OKC if Emmit is looking for a roommate.
Can I already say that with their current offense they won’t be able to win this game? Is it too early to say the game is over? Can I say this without offending all the delicate and tender souls here? Every year it’s the same; the Dodgers go through a terrible slump where they play pathetically, looking like the worst team ever seen. Right now, they don’t seem to have any fight in their hearts, no desire to win, no strength, no urgency. They look tired, disillusioned, and above all, old. I don’t understand why some are still waiting for the players on the injured list to return. There’s no one on the list destined to make a difference… I think they can improve; I’m almost certain they will improve. I definitely know they’ll make the playoffs, but today they look awful!
Simplemente compara la nómina anual de cada equipo, uno tiene hambre de triunfo y el otro está hastiado y luce aburrido, y si Jorge aquí hay tipos con la piel muy sensible y no dejan que otros desahoguemos la rabia de ver cómo un equipo de medio pelo para abajo nos pase por encima.
I’m kind of skeptical about online gaming security, especially when it comes to https://online-pokiescasinoau.com/. How do you know if a site is legit? I’d love some insights from more experienced players on how to pick good ones.