The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to the White House on July 23 to celebrate their second straight World Series title, but not everyone is packing a suit. Two of the club's biggest names, utility man Kiké Hernández and star Mookie Betts, are among those expected to skip the visit. Hernández, currently on a minor-league rehab assignment for a strained left oblique, has already said he probably would have stayed home even if he were healthy. He also stirred the pot by sharing an angry fan letter, return address and all, on his social feed.
White House Date Confirmed
The team has slotted the July 23 visit into an East Coast road trip and is presenting the event as part of the long-running tradition of championship teams visiting the president, according to MLB.com. Manager Dave Roberts said he hopes the Dodgers keep earning invitations like this and added that he expects many players to take part. The White House, for its part, issued a statement saying President Trump looked forward to welcoming the Dodgers.
Why Kiké Is Missing
Hernández has started a minor-league rehab assignment to deal with his strained left oblique and told reporters that "it's going to be hard to be in two cities at the same time" and "If I was active, I probably wouldn't have gone anyways," according to the Los Angeles Times. He joined the team at its last White House visit but later said that experience left him conflicted. This season, the timing of the event, an off day in the middle of a nine-game East Coast swing, has also played into players' decisions.
Fan Letter And Social Backlash
One fan, identifying himself as "Larry," sent Hernández a typed letter tearing into him. Hernández responded by posting a photo of the note, return address clearly visible, on his social account with the caption "SO to Larry for the nice letter!" and the jab "Next time, at least make it handwritten, you nice sir!," according to FOX 11 Los Angeles. That move reignited debate over how players use their platforms to answer critics and whether broadcasting a follower's address crosses a line.
Who's Skipping
Not every Dodger will be on the flight to Washington, D.C. Roberts said he expects plenty of players to attend, but he acknowledged that each person is making an individual call, per MLB.com. Hernández and Betts are the highest profile names to signal they will not go, a choice described by outlets as coming from a mix of scheduling issues, family considerations and personal conviction. For fans, those absences have only turned up the volume on a broader conversation about what the team represents away from the field.
Why It Matters For Dodgers Fans
What used to feel like a straightforward victory lap now lands as a loaded cultural moment, with some people treating a White House visit as a political statement and others seeing it as a simple championship celebration, according to columns and reporting at the Los Angeles Times. Layer on the Dodgers' deep roots in immigrant communities and the decisions by players like Hernández and Betts have hit especially hard, resonating far beyond the final score.
