Kiké Hernandez has a full-body banana suit hanging from his locker stall. It’s a gift from the Del Monte banana company; Hernandez has the letter to prove it.

On May 26, the official Twitter account of Chiquita Brands International (@Chiquita) congratulated Hernandez for using a banana to rally the Dodgers to victory over the Atlanta Braves.

What began, then, as a baseball player holding a banana in the dugout has morphed into an internet meme and now a corporate bidding war, waged in tweets and costumes if not actual money.

This is how a 23-year-old utility player has made a name for himself in his first two months with the Dodgers. And for good reason, too: How many professional athletes can claim the attention of two multinational agribusiness corporations?

Beneath the fruit and fervor, Hernandez has proven himself a pretty good baseball player — more than just a throw-in to the trade that sent Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Miami Marlins.

When Howie Kendrick missed three straight games with a left knee injury last week, Hernandez slipped out of his usual super-utility role and into the starting second baseman’s job. He went 5 for 13 at the plate and played errorless defense.

In 56 innings at five different positions, Hernandez has only committed one error this season. He’s batting a respectable .269, an average that jumps to .348 with runners on base.

At some level, this might bother a man: You’re doing your job pretty well and yet are best known for a banana meme?

“I don’t really care,” Hernandez said. “If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing on the field, I wouldn’t like this.”

The 23-year-old admits that his threshold for embarrassment is high, so embracing the banana meme isn’t hard. The knobs of Hernandez’s bats now have a sticker featuring the words “Rally Banana” and a fan-made drawing to match. Dodgers clubhouse attendant Mitch Poole ordered them at Hernandez’s request.

If the measure of a player’s personality is the knob of his bat, Hernandez is in rare company.

David Sulecki, owner of the Pro Helmet Decals company in Ocala, Florida, said most players ask for their number on their stickers. The Giants’ Matt Duffy asked for an image of the Simpsons character “Duffman.” Atlanta Braves outfielder Jonny Gomes asked for an image of the Loch Ness Monster.

Hernandez asked for the Rally Banana.

“I already knew about the ‘Rally Banana’,” Sulecki said.

Lesser known is that the Dodgers carried a four-man bench for much of April and May, one fewer than most National League teams. To an extent, Hernandez’s versatility on defense — he claims to be able to play all nine positions — makes this possible. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said it helps that Justin Turner and Alex Guerrero can play multiple positions as well.

The job is not glamorous. Utility players rarely gain notice for what they do on the field. In that regard, Hernandez isn’t alone.

“I’m sure he hates to be labeled as a utility player,” Dodgers first base coach Davey Lopes said of Hernandez.

This is not true. If there’s something about baseball or bananas that Hernandez does not like, the world hasn’t discovered it yet.

“People liking (the Rally Banana) comes with what I do on the field,” he said. “At least they know me for something good.”

Dodgers draft complete

The amateur draft concluded Wednesday with rounds 11-40. Among the notable names the Dodgers drafted: Upland High School pitcher Christopher Powell, the son of former Dodgers pitcher Dennis Powell (39th round), and Cal Poly Pomona and Chino Hills High School graduate Kyle Garlick (28th round).

The Dodgers made 42 overall picks, including selecting 25 pitchers (22 right-handers, three left-handers), five outfielders, six infielders (one first baseman, three second basemen, two shortstops) and six catchers. Thirty-three were selected from the college ranks, while nine were drafted from high school.

Four of the Dodgers’ first five picks were pitchers, too, which contradicted the expectation of amateur scouting director Billy Gasparino.

“We tried to target hitters this year,” Gasparino said. “We went and scouted them a lot, both on the high school and college end. We were wrong. We thought it was going to fall to us that way. It just didn’t.”

Gasparino said he realistically expects to sign 30 or more of the 42 picks.

Also

Brandon League (shoulder) threw a scoreless inning for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, striking out three. … Pitcher Joel Peralta (triceps) is expected to throw an inning for Rancho Cucamonga today. … Pitchers Pedro Baez (strained right pectoral) and Brandon Beachy (elbow) have not set a date for their rehab assignments yet.