'Bigger than baseball.' Why being in Puerto Rico for WBC meant so much to Kike Hernandez

"There had never been a walk-off homer in the history of the WBC, and we [got] to see two in the same day, which was pretty cool. For me personally, I was running to home plate, conscious that I wasn't necessarily part of the team so I couldn't run laps around home plate, like I did on Freddie [Freeman's] walk-off homers [in the World Series], but it's still up there as one of those really cool moments that I'll always remember."

"I got to experience it in a different way this year. I was just kind of there as a fan, almost in like a coaching role. I get a lot more nervous when I'm not playing, because I really don't have any power over it. I don't have any control over what's going on, so it was pretty nerve-wracking."

Kiké Hernández, a three-time World Series champion with the Dodgers, witnessed historic moments in the World Baseball Classic when two walk-off home runs occurred on the same day for the first time in tournament history. Ozzie Albies hit the first walk-off homer for Team Netherlands against Nicaragua, followed by Athletics prospect Darell Hernaiz delivering a game-winning blast for Team Puerto Rico over Panama in extra innings. Unable to play due to offseason left elbow surgery, Hernández attended the tournament in a fan and coaching capacity, experiencing the event differently than in his previous two WBC appearances. He celebrated Hernaiz's home run at home plate with teammates and reflected on the unique experience of watching rather than participating.

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