Dodgers teammates explained why they didn’t stick around to watch Teoscar Hernández win the Home Run Derby

Dodgers players were noticeably absent in the later rounds.

The Dodgers had five players make the trip to Arlington for the MLB All-Star festivities, which included Teoscar Hernández becoming the first Dodgers player in franchise history to win the Home Run Derby. But when it came time to celebrate with his fellow Dodgers All-Stars, the absence was noticeable.

Out of the Dodgers players to make the NL All-Star team, only pitcher Tyler Glasnow stuck around to watch the full event. Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman all left by the later rounds — a stark contrast from the Phillies players who all cheered on Alec Bohm into the semifinal.

Smith — the Dodgers catcher — was asked why he left early, and he explained that his 2-year-old daughter was getting restless. So, he had to leave a bit early to be on dad duty. Freeman also had his three young sons at the event. Though that didn’t explain why Ohtani left early, Hernández wasn’t bothered that his teammates didn’t stick around.

Via The LA Times:

Hernández said he didn’t give his teammates a hard time, and that he hardly even noticed until seeing comments on social media wondering about their absences.

“At the end of the day, it was a good day,” he said. “I won. So that’s all that matters.”

If it didn’t bother Hernández, it shouldn’t be an issue. After all, the Home Run Derby is an exhibition for the fans’ entertainment.

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Teoscar Hernandez trade grades: Who won the Blue Jays and Mariners deal?

Who won this trade?

FIRE UP THE HOT STOVE! WE’VE GOT A BIG TRADE!

The MLB offseason before the 2023 season truly kicked off with a deal that broke on Wednesday morning: Slugger Teoscar Hernandez, who broke out in a huge way in an All-Star season in 2021 and who knocked in 77 runs in 2022, is on his way to the Seattle Mariners, bolstering a lineup that also broke out in a huge way last year.

So who won this deal? As usual, we’re grading the big trades of the MLB offseason, so let’s break it all down with grades for both teams after reports of the swap broke:

Blue Jays’ Teoscar Hernández amazingly did the splits to stay safe at second

WOW.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernández pulled off a pretty skilled gymnastics feat against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday to ensure he’d be safe at second.

He did the splits, which will always be impressive whether that’s supposed to happen in your sport or not.

With two on base in the top of the first in Miami, Hernández doubled deep into right field and sent Bo Bichette home to give the Blue Jays an early lead. But as Hernández slid into second, he went in with a ton of momentum, and it looked like it took everything he had to keep his right foot on the bag.

He tagged the base and just kept sliding before inadvertently doing the splits.

WOW. That’s some amazing flexibility

Hernández was safe, and Toronto exited the first inning with a 2-0 lead. Here’s another angle of this incredible move to stay on base:

And somehow, he made the splits look easy when this move was almost certainly super difficult (and probably a tad painful, depending on how much he stretched before the game).

Even though it’s only Wednesday, it’s probably safe to say this will end up being one of the most impressive MLB plays of the week.

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