Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Kiké Hernández found himself in the spotlight during Friday’s game against the New York Yankees, as he was mic’d up for a TV interview while playing in the field. The debate over players being mic’d up during games has been ongoing, with some fans loving the access it provides to the players’ personalities, while others worry about the potential distractions it may cause.
During the second inning of the game, Hernández was fielding a ground ball at third base when he was asked about the Dodgers being a close-knit team by the broadcast team. As he responded to the question, the ball took a strange hop, hitting Hernández on his hand and groin before he made an error on the play, allowing Gleyber Torres to reach base.
After the game, Hernández admitted that the interview may have been a slight distraction, but he ultimately blamed the error on the weird hop of the ball. Despite the mistake, Hernández made it clear that he wouldn’t reconsider doing in-game interviews, citing the financial incentive players receive for wearing a microphone.
The Dodgers went on to win the game 2-1 in 11 innings, with Hernández contributing with a hit and a walk at the plate. While the error may have raised questions about the impact of in-game interviews on players’ performance, Hernández’s ability to bounce back and stay focused on the game suggests that the practice may not be as disruptive as some fear.