Kike Hernandez hits 17th postseason homer, narrows gap to Reggie Jackson

Kike Hernandez hit his 17th career postseason home run Tuesday night, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Truist Park.

The two‑run blast in the fourth inning moved Hernandez into the top‑20 on the all‑time playoff home run list and left him just one homer behind Reggie Jackson, the original “Mr. October.” It also gave him 12 postseason homers as a Dodger, the fourth‑most in franchise history.

Batting ninth and starting for the first time in this postseason, Hernandez jumped on Braves ace Chris Sale’s second pitch of the fourth and launched a 406‑foot drive into left‑field seats. The swing produced a two‑run lead that the Dodgers never relinquished.

According to OptaStats, Hernandez is the only player with at least 100 career homers – regular season and postseason combined – to have ten percent or more of those coming in October. His .826 OPS in the playoffs contrasts sharply with his .706 regular‑season OPS, highlighting his ability to elevate performance when the stakes are highest.

“We needed a little bit of that Kiké dust,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game.

Hernandez joked that his October focus comes from “liking Halloween,” but he also credited his ADHD as a source of hyper‑focus during the postseason. He told reporters, “I was going to be ready whenever Doc put my name in the lineup.”

Teammates echoed the sentiment. Veteran Miguel Rojas said, “He converts himself into this kind of monster when it comes to the playoffs, and when it matters the most.” Freeman added, “I wish there was a recipe for that so we can all take it from him.”

The win gave Los Angeles a 2-1 series edge and set up a pivotal Game 4. If Hernandez adds another homer, he will tie Reggie Jackson’s record; a second would push him past the Hall of Famer and cement his place among postseason greats.