MLB Star Kike Hernández Gets Candid About The Struggles He's Faced Trying To Stay In Shape At Age 34

MLB star Kike Hernández is getting candid about the struggles he's faced trying to stay in peak physical condition at age 34.

During an interview, the Los Angeles Dodgers standout opened up about how his life as an athlete has evolved over the years, admitting that he has had to form new habits to keep pace with the game's demands.

And diet and exercise regimen aren't the only recent changes in Hernández's life, as the MLB player and his wife, Mariana Vicente, previously shared the exciting news that they're expecting a baby boy in the coming months.

Speaking with Us Weekly, Hernández admitted that his fitness routine has undergone several changes since joining the league in 2009. “I try to stay consistent, but at the same time you have to change your habits,” he said, later joking that he's noticed the "late night snacks" have become a problem.

As he went on, Hernández explained that his body can no longer adapt the way it once did, meaning the utility player must do more "stretching" and more "activation" before getting going.

"A couple of years ago, I used to just show up and go to the weight room and start lifting without even stretching or activating or anything like that. These days, I do that, and I’m probably going to tweak something that’s going to linger for a few weeks. So, things change as far as what you do in order to prepare to play," he continued.

Hernández admitted that it has taken some trial and error for him to truly understand what his body needs as he has gotten older. He likened his younger self to the "Energizer bunny," sharing that he used to take only brief breaks before games during his early career. "Now, if I do what I did when I was in my mid-20s, the hour break is not enough before the game. I’m still gonna be pretty tired before the game. But you go through things and you learn things," he said.

Elsewhere, during his chat with Us Weekly, Hernández began sharing more about his life as a father, while also reflecting on how his wife's current pregnancy differs from her first in 2020.

"It's very different," he said. "You know, the first time we were going through COVID and we were quarantining during the pregnancy. We really didn’t have anything to worry about other than looking ahead. I was reading books like 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' father's edition and things like that. But now I have an idea of what to expect."

And while he's excited to welcome a baby boy, Hernández admitted that balancing family life with the grueling MLB season is a major challenge.

"You try to stay present while you’re at home and just be the husband and be the dad, but it’s hard at the same time having to leave every morning and trying to switch gears from dad and husband to player, teammate and competitor. The sole focus of my life right now is just not just my upcoming baby, but I also have to somewhat focus on my job," he said.

Hernández and his wife shared a heartwarming post about their pregnancy on Instagram a little over a month ago, sharing the thrilling news that they were expanding their family.

In the joint post, the couple is seen cradling their bellies while smiling lovingly at each other. "KIKITO coming soon!" they captioned the post, also adding a light blue heart emoji. "#2026," it concluded.

Social media users flooded the comment section of Hernández and Vicente's post with love, expressing their excitement and anticipation for the couple. @MLB.Fits, a popular account that highlights the best MLB outfits, wrote, "Congratulations," while the official Dodgers Instagram account echoed a similar statement and also added a few heart emojis.