"All Kiké Hernández knew about Albuquerque - the home of the Triple-A Isotopes - was the city's elevation. But the city knew him. For years, the city's baseball fans grew up watching the Dukes, the former longtime Dodgers affiliate. So when Hernández arrived with the Oklahoma City Comets to continue his rehab assignment on Tuesday, the opposing fans greeted him with a thunderous ovation."
"The fans' positivity offset the emotionally tough road back from left elbow surgery to fix a tear in Hernández's tendon. Before this year, the utilityman, who agreed to a one-year, $4.5-million deal with the Dodgers in February, never missed spring training or opening day in his career. Hernández, who is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list May 24, is 2 for 15 with a double in five games with the Comets."
"“I knew it was going to be a long rehab,” he said. “And even though I'm ahead of schedule, it still feels like it's forever.” The 34-year-old now finds himself at a crossroads. Although he remains locked onto each pitch he can possibly watch from the Dodgers, he also wants to mentor the players in Oklahoma City."
"“We're not just baseball players,” he said. “So being able to help my wife out, and spend time with the baby and with my daughter, it's been huge, and that's kept my mind busy.” At the end of the day, though, Hernández wants to be healthy, preferably in Los Angeles."
Kiké Hernández arrived in Albuquerque for a rehab assignment with the Oklahoma City Comets, and local fans responded with a loud ovation. Fans had long watched the Dukes, the former Dodgers affiliate, and their enthusiasm helped offset the emotional difficulty of returning from left elbow surgery. Hernández had not missed spring training or opening day before this year and is working through recovery after tendon surgery. He is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list on May 24 and has produced limited results with the Comets. He feels ahead of schedule yet still experiences the rehab as lengthy. He also wants to mentor players while spending time with his wife and children, and he ultimately wants to be healthy and return to Los Angeles.
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