/ STAFF WRITER
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Kike’ Hernandez had a choice to make. He has no doubt that he made the right one.
Hernandez opted to play for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic rather than stay in spring training with the Dodgers, where he is competing with Chris Taylor and Charlie Culberson for the final spot on the Dodgers’ season-opening bench.
With Puerto Rico reaching the championship game before losing to Team USA at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Hernandez was away from the Dodgers for 2½ weeks. For most of that time, Corey Seager has been sidelined by a strained oblique muscle in his right side, meaning lots of playing time for Taylor and Culberson to make their cases as utilitymen.