Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Kiké Hernández found himself in an unusual situation during a game against the New York Yankees when he made an error while being interviewed live on television. Hernández was speaking with Wayne Randazzo and former pitcher Dontrelle Willis on the Apple TV+ telecast when the mishap occurred in the second inning.
As the conversation flowed from Hernández’s colorful cleats to the team’s camaraderie, a play unfolded on the field. With one out and a 1-2 count on Gleyber Torres, Willis asked about the team’s close-knit nature, prompting Hernández to respond just as a ground ball came his way.
The ball hit Hernández on his bare right hand and ricocheted off his groin, resulting in a missed opportunity to make the play at first base. Reflecting on the incident after the game, Hernández acknowledged that the interview might have affected his focus slightly but ultimately attributed the error to the ball taking a strange hop.
Despite the mishap, Hernández expressed his commitment to continuing in-game interviews, citing financial incentives provided for participating players under the collective bargaining agreement.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed surprise at Hernández being interviewed while on the field, indicating a lack of awareness about the situation.
Shortly after the error, Hernández humorously inquired about the previous question, prompting Willis to joke about not wanting to risk another error by asking it again. Despite the error, the Dodgers managed to escape the inning without further damage, stranding the runner at third base.
The game saw another defensive lapse when Hernández reached base on an error by Torres in the third inning, only to be picked off shortly after.
The sequence of events highlighted both the unpredictability of baseball and the challenges of multitasking during live interviews. Despite the error-prone moments, Hernández’s willingness to engage in in-game interviews adds an element of entertainment and insight for fans, albeit with occasional comedic outcomes.