Dodgers Notes: Kike’ Hernandez says President Trump should ‘show some humanity’

Oct. 05--LOS ANGELES -- Earlier this week, Houston Astros chairman Jim Crane sent two private planes loaded with supplies to Puerto Rico to aid the hurricane recovery efforts there. Those planes returned loaded with people, moving to safety in the United States.

Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernandez is a former member of the Astros' organization who made his major-league debut with them in 2014. The Puerto Rico native's family and his fiancee's family were on one of those planes and Hernandez (active on social media) took to Twitter to express his thanks to Crane.

Things got messy after that.

Hernandez received some negative responses to his tweet. Later in the day, he posted a video of President Donald Trump's visit to Puerto Rico and criticized the president's light-hearted approach to passing out supplies to hurricane victims.

"I've tried not getting too political but PR is going through something very serious and this guy is trying to make this (stuff) funny?! SMH!!!" Hernandez tweeted.

Backlash from Trump supporters followed with Hernandez even becoming the subject of a headline and story on a website called 'OffendedAmerica.com.'

Before Wednesday's workout, Hernandez said he has tried to stay away from Twitter since Tuesday other than to continue his fundraising efforts for hurricane relief. And he stood by his criticism of the president's behavior during his visit to Puerto Rico.

"This is serious. This is not a joke," Hernandez said. "To see him throw paper towels out there like those people are inferior. ... It's like going to Vegas right now and starting to throw Band-Aids to the public, you know?

"I try not to be too political. But it's not about politics. ... It's not a time to be joking. Be respectful to the people who are suffering and are in need. Show some sympathy. Show some humanity. Show some heart. That's what (angered me). It's not anything else but that."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he understands Hernandez's thoughts are with the people suffering in Puerto Rico but doesn't think this will be a distraction for Hernandez. Roberts said Hernandez will start in left field against left-handed pitchers during the NL Division Series.

"He's playing as good baseball as he has all year," Roberts said of Hernandez, who hit .270 with a .946 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season. "Kiké is very sensitive, emotional and his thoughts are with family and friends who are back there in Puerto Rico and the disaster that took place there. But he, like all of our players, has that ability to focus once they're on the field. It is something that's weighing on his heart."

THIRD CATCHER

Kyle Farmer took to pinch hitting quickly as a rookie, collecting five hits in 13 at-bats. That includes an 11th-inning, game-winning double in his major league debut July 30.

If he's on the Dodgers' 25-man roster for the NLDS, Farmer will reprise his role as the team's third catcher and a right-handed hitter off the bench.

"That'd be a great opportunity for me," he said. "Whatever happens, the team is going to make the decision for what's best for the team. If I'm in there I'll be ready, stay ready and hopefully get in a game."

Farmer would give the Dodgers the option of pinch-hitting for catcher Yasmani Grandal, who has a .668 on-base plus slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers this year, while still having an extra catcher (Austin Barnes) on the bench. Farmer said he's recently taken reps at third base and first base, too.

Considering he hadn't pinch-hit since August 2015, Farmer's new role came rather naturally.

"I like being in those situations, coming off the bench and being able to hit," he said. "It's very nerve-wracking at the time but once you step in the box, it seems like you've had your third at-bat."

ALSO

Yu Darvish and Alex Wood threw three innings each in a simulated game during Wednesday's workout. Kenta Maeda, Josh Fields, Pedro Baez and Ross Stripling each threw an inning as well. During Thursday's workout, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Walker Buehler and Brock Stewart are scheduled to throw to hitters. ... Tim Locastro did some simulated baserunning during the sim game. Locastro is still under consideration for inclusion on the postseason roster as a baserunning specialist.

Staff writer J.P. Hoornstra contributed to this notebook.

___

(c)2017 The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Visit The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) at www.ocregister.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.