Braves legend demands rule change after Kike Hernandez pitches for Dodgers against Padres

The Los Angeles Dodgers once again used position player Kike Hernandez to pitch in a blowout game to save their bullpen for the next day, much to the dismay of Braves legend John Smoltz, who called the tactic flat-out “embarrassing.”

A couple of games back, Hernandez came in relief in the sixth inning with the San Diego Padres leading 9-0. He threw what Ben Verlander called "lollipops" during his 2.1-inning stint in which he allowed one earned run. In the following game, the well-rested Dodgers bullpen secured a 5-2 win to seal the series.

It was not the first time Hernandez had been asked to pitch in a blowout game.

Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz expressed his frustration with teams using their position players to get through games.

"I think it’s the most embarrassing thing in sports," Smoltz told Verlander on the Flippin' Bats podcast (8:45 onwards). "I think, with the reality of all the smart people thinking pitching, bullpenning, bullpenning… and we’ve had more position players pitch in baseball games than ever before. What does that tell you? I think every once in a while you can say it’s cute, the fans kind of get on it.

"But when we’re having it at this alarming rate, I think baseball needs to do something about it. I know they’ve made a rule about when you can use that person, but you know what? At some point, people keep talking about, 'Well, let’s just have a mercy rule.' What are we doing?"

The MLB has made efforts to curtail the use of position players on the mound, but exceptions still exist.

Kike Hernandez makes MLB history after pitching 2.1 innings vs Padres

Kike Hernandez is a hitter but it will be his pitching that stands out in MLB history.

According to Jeff Praught on X, Hernandez's 2.1 innings against the Padres were the most any position player has thrown in major league history.

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Hernandez has now pitched eight times in his career, throwing nine innings for six earned runs on 12 hits and four walks.

About the author

Krutik Jain is a journalist who has been reporting on baseball at Sportskeeda since 2022. It was in 2018 when the baseball bug bit Krutik, and already a cricket fan, he credits baseball's rules and Clayton Kershaw's pitching to have hooked him to the game.

A Kershaw and Mookie Betts fan, Krutik rates his favorite team LA Dodgers triumphing over Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series as his best baseball moment so far. His answer to the perennial "one player from the past you could meet" question is Jackie Robinson. Despite never having seen him play, Robinson's impact, legacy and trail-blazing journey have left an indelible impact on Krutik.

A rigorous fact-checker, Krutik likes reporting on the technical aspects of the game as well as off-field elements. When not watching baseball, Krutik is busy playing cricket, staying up to date with the happenings around the world and hiking.

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Edited by Dipayan Moitra