Kiké Hernandez is in the Rose Parade

A pair of Dodgers will be in the 2018 Rose Parade this New Year’s morning, with Kiké Hernandez and former general manager Fred Claire riding in the City of Hope float in the annual Pasadena affair.

The Rose Parade is on multiple networks starting at 8 a.m. PT, with some of the channels providing coverage beginning at 7 a.m.

Hernandez’s father Enrique was diagnosed in spring training 2016 with multiple myeloma, and had a stem cell transplant in July of that year. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times profiled Hernandez and his father on Saturday:

“I had a dad where he sacrificed everything to be there with me, and to help me get a career out of this. His dream was to become a big league player. That didn’t happen. He’s basically living not only his dream, but his son’s dream. So it’s extremely special for him. That is a day that neither of us are going to forget one bit, for the rest of our lives.”

Father and son happily accepted Forman’s invitation to ride on the City of Hope float, even if it meant celebrating a new year away from home.

“My dad was all in,” Enrique said, “pretty much because we were going to get Rose Bowl tickets.”

Claire was diagnosed in August 2016 with squamous cell carcinoma in his jaw, and has undergone strenuous treatment since:

At City of Hope, Claire had 28 lymph nodes and a nerve in his jawbone removed through surgery, followed by 33 radiation treatments and seven rounds of chemotherapy.

When I talked to Claire in November about his winter meetings memories he said he was “doing fine” and was thankful for the City of Hope during his cancer battle.

“I’ve continued on the journey which now stretches more than a year,” Claire said. “I’m very thankful for all the good things that have happened related to that journey and the great work by the City of Hope doctors and staff.”

The Dodgers have been affiliated with the Rose Parade multiple times in recent years. Just four years ago Vin Scully was the Grand Marshal of the parade.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

In 2008, the Dodgers also had a float to celebrate their 50th anniversary of moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images