The Los Angeles Dodgers’ attitude was perfectly, if crudely, summed up by utility player Kiké Hernandez after they eliminated the San Diego Padres in Game 5 of the National League Division Series.

In his on-field postgame interview with Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal, Hernandez asked if they were on live television before dropping a profanity as a mischievous grin appeared on his face:

The “don’t give up***” quote quickly made the rounds on social media and ignited the Dodgers’ fan base.

The next day, Hernández apologized in an interview with MLB.com: “Last night, during my postgame interview, I was really excited after an incredibly competitive series with the Padres. I said something in a way that I deeply regret. I used an I apologize if I have offended anyone.”

More news: Dodgers’ Game 5 Hero Reveals Surprising Key to Success

Buried beneath the hype is a nugget of truth. Hernandez wasn’t just excited, or trying to incite fans. His quote captured a heartfelt thought about the Dodgers’ attitude as a team.

According to one Dodgers player, no one embodies that attitude more than Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly.

On the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, pitcher Michael Kopech said the key to his success is not having to worry about being judged on the field — and no one does it better than Kelly.

“I think Joe is the best at that,” Kopech told host Rob Bradford. “I think Joe is the best in baseball and he doesn’t care what other people think of him. I say that as the highest compliment because it’s one of the hardest things to do in this sport.

“What freed me the last game was warming up in front of 50,000 people on the field and sailing a ball to the backstop. I can embarrass myself and then throw it? If I just did that, what’s the most embarrassing thing? what I think I can do – pitch a ball to 53,000 people – and then I can pitch to 53,000 people.”

Kelly, 36, has made 41 postseason appearances in his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. He has an ERA of 3.45, even better than his ERA of 3.98 in the regular season.

In 2024, Kelly battled through injuries and appeared in 35 games for the Dodgers, posting a 4.78 ERA. He didn’t make the Dodgers’ roster for the NLDS or the NLCS.

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