Dodgers News: Kiké Hernandez Will Still Receive Playing Time

Just when it appeared Kiké Hernandez had solidified the second base position after Howie Kendrick went on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, the Los Angeles Dodgers went out and traded for second baseman Chase Utley.

The Dodgers sent minor league infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney and minor league pitcher John Richy to the Philadelphia Phillies for the veteran second baseman out of UCLA. Since taking over for Kendrick at second base, Hernandez was hitting .343 with a homer and three RBIs in nine games, but it would appear he was supplanted in the starting lineup.

However, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Hernandez will go back to a bench role:

Zaidi on Kiké Hernandez: "We’re going to run our 8 best guys out there every night. The way he’s been hitting, he’s one of those guys."

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 20, 2015

So, where would Hernandez play if Zaidi also said that Utley would be the primary second baseman?

Mark Saxon of ESPN LA speculates one idea for getting Hernandez in the starting lineup:

Part of the trade is about Joc Pederson's 5-for-51 (22 strikeouts) slump. Enrique Hernandez can play center field with Utley here.

— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) August 19, 2015

As it was, Hernandez was the team’s starting second baseman, backup shortstop and backup center fielder. With the trade, the 23-year-old can shuffle around giving Jimmy Rollins and Joc Pederson days off. Pederson has found his eye at the plate recently, walking 20 times in August despite a .132 batting average, but the Dodgers may want to get him some more rest and give Hernandez some more at-bats.

According to Eric Stephen of True Blue LA, the versatile Hernandez could find himself at another spot in the infield:

Farhan Zaidi said it's likely Alex Guerrero and Kiké Hernandez would get reps as backup 3B (plus eventually possibly working Utley in)

— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) August 20, 2015

Hernandez has yet to play third base for the Dodgers in the regular season, but he played some in Spring Training and played three games there for the Miami Marlins last season. With Alberto Callaspo gone, the backup spot at third base is now open and Hernandez is hitting much better than Alex Guerrero is.

Regardless of where he plays, Hernandez’s bat will keep him in the lineup a majority of the time.