TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Los Angeles Dodgers fan favorite Enrique "Kike" Hernandez further bolstered his standing among locals Tuesday when he showed up to a pregame press conference in Tokyo wearing a replica Japan national soccer team jersey.

When asked by a reporter where he acquired the personalized "Hernandez" Samurai Blue jersey, the Puerto Rican-born utility player quipped, "I tried out for the Japanese soccer team, and I made the team."

Hernandez went on to explain his endorsement deal with Adidas allowed him to meet a player representative in Japan through former Boston Red Sox teammate Hirokazu Sawamura.

"He wanted to give me a couple of gifts...and this was a very nice surprise that was inside the bag," Hernandez said.

The 33-year-old veteran then went out to batting practice in front of a packed crowd at Tokyo Dome wearing the jersey before playing in the Dodgers' 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in their season-opening game.

"He's a unique person. He's a unique baseball player," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Hernandez.

"Not many people have the ability to be a jokester, have a lot of fun, but in the biggest of moments, be able to...perform. He was a big part of our last two world championships."

Hernandez was a member of the Dodgers' World Series-winning teams in 2020 and 2024.

Last year, he hit the first of the Dodgers' two home runs off Yu Darvish when they defeated the San Diego Padres 2-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 of their National League Division Series.

At their press conference, Hernandez and teammate Miguel Rojas shared stories about last Sunday's team dinner hosted by their Japanese teammates Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

"It was amazing," said Venezuelan Rojas who played shortstop in the opener. "We really appreciate the opportunity to taste a little bit of not just food but also the culture of Japan."