Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Kiké Hernández made an error in the midst of a live television interview during a game against the New York Yankees. While speaking with announcers Wayne Randazzo and Dontrelle Willis on Apple TV+, Hernández was asked about the team’s close-knit nature when he made the error. Hernández attributed the mistake to the ball taking a weird hop and stated that he would not reconsider future in-game interviews because of the financial incentive.
In the second inning of the game, with one out and Gleyber Torres at bat, Hernández was chatting with the commentators when the ball hit him on the hand and groin. Despite the distraction, Hernández continued the interview and even jokingly asked about the question he was asked before the error occurred. Willis humorously declined to repeat the question, not wanting to jinx Hernández again. The play resulted in Torres reaching first base and eventually advancing to third on a single, although he was ultimately stranded.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was unaware that Hernández was being interviewed while on the field, and the player himself acknowledged that the interview may have impacted him on the play that resulted in the error. However, Hernández remained light-hearted about the situation, mentioning that he liked money, alluding to the stipend players receive for wearing a microphone during games. The stipend for wearing a two-way microphone during a regular-season game is $10,000, which increases to $15,000 for postseason games.
Despite the error, Hernández maintained a positive attitude and continued with the interview, showing his professionalism and sense of humor in a potentially embarrassing situation. The comical exchange between Hernández and the announcers added a light-hearted moment to the game, even as the Dodgers and Yankees battled it out for a victory. Hernández’s willingness to engage with the interviewers and keep the conversation going, even after making a mistake, showcased his ability to handle pressure situations with grace and humor.
