Watch: Enrique Hernandez hits another clutch postseason HR

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Enrique Hernandez (8) runs after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the San Diego Padres during Game 5 of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Watch: Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez hits another clutch postseason HR

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 10/11/24

Some players just seem to raise their game to a new level when the playoffs roll around.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez has proven to be one of those players throughout his career, and he proved it again on Friday in Game 5 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres.

Hernandez opened the scoring by crushing his 14th career postseason home run deep into the left-field bleachers, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

Have a look at his 428-foot home run.

Kiké Hernández clubs his 14th career #Postseason homer! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/ZJQsNYiJ6S
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024

The 14 career home runs move him into a tie for 20th on the MLB all-time postseason home run list.

On one hand, the extra playoff games that come from the expanded playoffs give current players more opportunities to add to their postseason numbers that previous generations never had.

On the other hand, there is no denying that Hernandez has been an outstanding playoff performer, no matter how many games he gets.

Entering Friday's game he had an .886 OPS in the playoffs for his career. That is .173 points higher than his .713 regular season mark for his career. When the lights get brighter and the stage gets bigger, Hernandez simply gets better.

More must-reads: