| Félix Hernández | |
|---|---|
_(5712186216).jpg) Hernández with the Seattle Mariners in 2011 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1986-04-08)April 8, 1986 (age 39) Valencia, Venezuela | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 4, 2005, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 2019, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 169–136 |
| Earned run average | 3.42 |
| Strikeouts | 2,524 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the Venezuelan | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2025 |
| Vote | 78% |
| Election method | Contemporary Committee |
Félix Abraham Hernández García (born April 8, 1986), nicknamed "King Félix", is a Venezuelan-American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSeattle Mariners from 2005 through 2019. A six-time All-Star, Hernández led MLB in wins in 2009, led the American League in earned run average in 2010 and 2014, and won theAL Cy Young Award in 2010. He also played on theVenezuelan national team at two editions of theWorld Baseball Classic.
On August 15, 2012,Hernández threw the 23rdperfect game in MLB history, defeating theTampa Bay Rays atSafeco Field by a 1-0 score. Hernández's perfect game was also the first perfect game in Seattle Mariners franchise history.[1] On April 23, 2016, Hernández claimed the record for most strikeouts by a Mariners pitcher when he struck outRafael Ortega of the Los Angeles Angels for his 2,163rd strikeout. The previous Mariners record of 2,162 strikeouts had been held byRandy Johnson. Hernández's 146th win, which occurred on May 9, gave him the club record in that category as well.
For a decade, Hernández was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He was also a fan favorite in Seattle.[2] Known for his durability, Hernández started 30 or more games in each of 10 consecutive seasons. Beginning at age 30, he experienced a series of injuries, a decrease in fastball velocity, and an increase in earned run average.[3] After leaving the Mariners in 2019, Hernández signed with theAtlanta Braves and then with theBaltimore Orioles; however, he did not pitch in the major leagues again.
Hernández was born on April 8, 1986, inValencia, Venezuela. He was first spotted by Luis Fuenmayor, a part-time Mariners scout who saw him pitching at age 14 in a tournament nearMaracaibo. Fuenmayor recommended Hernández to fellow scouts Pedro Avila and Emilio Carrasquel. TheSeattle Mariners signed Hernandez as soon as he turned 16, in accordance with MLB rules.[4]
After graduating from high school, Hernández agreed to his first professional contract. Mariners director of international operations Bob Engle signed Hernández as an internationalfree agent on July 4, 2002. Hernández received a large signing bonus of $710,000, although he said the Mariners were not the highest bidder.[5] Other teams trying to sign him included theNew York Yankees and theAtlanta Braves, with both teams reportedly offering more money than Seattle.[6]
One reason Hernández chose the Mariners was that his idol, fellow Venezuelan pitcherFreddy García, was pitching for the team at the time. His agent, Wil Polidor, also attributed the decision to the influence of Hernández's father, Félix Sr., a trucking business owner who handled negotiations for his son. Engle and the other Mariners scouts had cultivated a relationship with the family to explain their plans for Félix and earn the family's trust.[7]
In 2003, Hernández pitched to a 7–2 mark for the Class AEverett AquaSox andWisconsin Timber Rattlers.[8] He was named the Mariners' minor league pitcher of the year in 2004, a season that also saw him make an appearance in theFutures Game. He started the 2004 season with theInland Empire 66ers in theCalifornia League before being promoted to the Double-ASan Antonio Missions. He finished a combined 14–4 with a 2.95ERA and 172strikeouts in 1491⁄3innings pitched.[9][8]Hernández was dubbed "King Felix" by the U.S.S. Mariner fan blog in 2003.[10][11][12]
At the beginning of 2005,Baseball America listed Hernández as the best pitching prospect in baseball and the second-best overall prospect behind futureHall of FamerJoe Mauer.[11] In 2005, Hernández posted a 9–4 record with a league-leading 2.25 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 88 innings for the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers.[8] He was selected for the Triple-A All-Star Game but did not participate due to injury. He was also named thePCL Rookie of the Year andPCL Pitcher of the Year.[9]
Soon after returning from his injury, Hernández was called up to the major leagues by the Mariners. He made his debut on August 4, 2005, in a 3–1 loss in a road game against theDetroit Tigers. At 19 years, 118 days, he was the youngest pitcher to appear in the majors sinceJosé Rijo in 1984.[13] Hernández earned his first major league win in his next outing on August 9, pitching eight shutout innings in a 1–0 victory at home over theMinnesota Twins. Over his first several starts, he registered a streak of 112 batters faced before he allowed his first extra-base hit, adouble byJermaine Dye of theChicago White Sox.
In 12 starts, Hernández posted a 4–4 record with 77 strikeouts and a 2.67 ERA. With84+1⁄3innings pitched, he exhausted hisrookie eligibility. After the season, he became the focus of a disagreement over the possibility of his pitching in the2006 World Baseball Classic. Although Hernández was placed on a provisional roster by theVenezuela national team, the Mariners objected, citing his earlier injury and expressing concern about the stress on his arm from adding this competition to the demands of a full season in the major leagues at such a young age. Their appeal to the WBC technical committee was eventually upheld.[14][15]
When he arrived in the major leagues, Hernández was given uniform number 59. In 2006, he switched to number 34, the same numberFreddy García (since traded to theChicago White Sox) had worn as a Mariner.
For his first full year in the major leagues, Hernández arrived inspring training out of shape and had his preparation for the season interrupted byshin splints. He recovered in time to begin the season in the starting rotation, where he often struggled, but occasionally showed flashes of the potential that had generated such hype. His achievements included a few more personal milestones. He threw his first careercomplete game on June 11, beating theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim by a score of 6–2.
On August 27, once more against the Angels, Hernández registered his firstshutout, needing only 95 pitches and allowing five hits while picking up four strikeouts. The game, which lasted only 1 hour, 51 minutes, was the shortest in the history ofSafeco Field.
Concerned about avoiding possible injury to their young pitcher, the Mariners declared that they would limit Hernández to 200 innings pitched, including both the regular season and spring training. This required them to skip his turn in the rotation a couple times as the season went on, after the Mariners fell out of contention. To allow him to make one last start at the end of the year, the team decided to raise the limit to 205. His 191 regular-season innings still led the team, and he finished 12–14 with a 4.52 ERA. His 12 victories and 176 strikeouts also led the Mariner pitching staff. He also threw the fastest fastball of all major league starters in 2006, averaging 95.2 miles per hour (153.2 km/h).[16]
During the offseason, Hernández returned to his parents' home in a modest Valencia neighborhood, while awaiting completion of a house for himself, his girlfriend and daughter. At the team's insistence, he did not pitch in the Venezuelan winter league, unlike his older brother Moises, a pitching prospect trying to crack the majors with theAtlanta Braves.[17] ASeattle Times profile of his life in Venezuela, with its relaxed daily routine, raised eyebrows among those who remained concerned about his conditioning.[18] The team later explained that he had been specifically instructed to rest for two weeks after the season. He then picked up a workout regimen, including an improved diet, daily running, and regularweight training, to lose about 20 pounds. This put Hernández in much better physical condition upon his return to the United States in January, when he began a throwing program in advance of spring training.[19]
Based on his improved condition and a successful spring training, the Mariners indicated that in 2007 they would no longer limit the number of innings Hernández could pitch, focusing instead onpitch counts to avoid overuse. Hernández won the honor of being named the team'sOpening Day starter. He became the youngest pitcher chosen for this assignment sinceDwight Gooden in 1985. He pitched eight innings of a 4–0 victory over theOakland A's, allowing three hits and two walks while setting a career-high with 12 strikeouts.
Hernández thrust himself into the national spotlight with his next start on April 11 against theBoston Red Sox, a much-hyped duel with Japanese importDaisuke Matsuzaka, who was making his home debut atFenway Park. Hernández lived up to his end and upstaged the matchup of Matsuzaka pitching to his countryman,Ichiro Suzuki, by hurlingno-hit ball for seven innings, finishing with a one-hit, complete-game shutout in a 3–0 victory.[20]
During the first inning of his next start against Minnesota, he was removed from the game because of increasing tightness in his rightelbow, especially when throwing his slider. After undergoing anMRI exam that night, he was examined the next day and was diagnosed with a strained flexor-pronator muscle in his forearm and was placed on the disabled list. Two planned returns were put off as the team took a cautious approach in bringing him back, although it opted not to send him to the minor leagues for a rehabilitation assignment. Instead, he was activated on May 15 and kept on a reduced pitch count initially.
Upon his return, Hernández initially battled to regain the form he had flashed in those first two starts of the year. He finished the season with a 14–7 record. His victory over theNew York Yankees on September 3, in his first appearance atYankee Stadium, stopped a nine-game Mariner losing streak but was not enough to keep the team from falling out of playoff contention. His 3.92 ERA for the season was the best among Seattle starters, and he again led the Mariners in strikeouts with 165. He again threw the fastest fastball of all major league starters in 2007, averaging 95.6 miles per hour (153.9 km/h).[16]
On June 17, Hernández became the 13th AL pitcher to throw an "immaculate inning" (striking out the side on exactly nine pitches). He did this in the fourth inning of a start against theFlorida Marlins. On June 23, in his onlyat bat of the season, Hernández hit his first major leaguehome run, agrand slam, off fellow VenezuelanJohan Santana of theNew York Mets.[21][22][23] Hernández became the first American League pitcher to hit a grand slam since Cleveland'sSteve Dunning hit one on May 11, 1971 and was the first to do so sinceinterleague play and theDH rule began. It was also the first home run ever hit by a Mariners pitcher. Later on in the same game,Carlos Beltrán slid into Hernández as he covered home, injuring the pitcher's left ankle. He was forced to leave the game and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He finished the season with a perfect 4.000 slugging percentage.
Hernández finished the season with a 9–11 record posting 3.45 ERA and 175 strikeouts. He again threw the fastest fastball of all AL starters, averaging 94.6 miles per hour (152.2 km/h).[24]
In January, Hernández avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $3.8 million deal.[25] Hernández got off to a fast start, starting the season with a 4–0 record, only to fall cold in May, going 1–3. After a particularly sloppy loss against theAnaheim Angels, managerDon Wakamatsu publicly called him out for not "stepping up" as an ace.[26] Hernández would go on to lose just two games during the rest of the year.
On June 19 against San Diego, Hernández threw a complete game, two-hit shutout against the Padres. This was his first complete game of the season and one of the best starts of his career. His sizzling performance in June (3–0 record, 0.93 ERA, 35 strikeouts) would earn him the ALPitcher of the Month award for June, and on July 5, 2009, Hernández was selected along with outfielderIchiro Suzuki as the Mariners representatives in the2009 MLB All Star Game.[27] He made the first All-Star appearance of his career in the sixth inning, tossing a hitless inning.
By the All-Star break, Hernández was 9–3 with a 2.53 ERA while striking out 122 batters in124+2⁄3 innings pitched. At the age of 23 years, he became one of the youngest and fastest pitchers to strikeout 600 batters sinceDwight Gooden. He would reach 800 strikeouts by season's end.
During the 2009 season, Hernández set career bests inwins,strikeouts,innings pitched, andearned run average. Hernández finished the season 19–5 with a 2.49 ERA and 217 strikeouts and was in strong contention for theALCy Young Award. Hernández ended up finishing second in the award voting behindZack Greinke.
One striking aspect of this season is concerning him being provided just 4.37 runs per 27 out in games pitched, the least among seasons for pitchers leading the Majors in wins sinceJim Palmer in1976 for a 162 game season.
On January 21, 2010, the Seattle Mariners and Hernández agreed to a 5-year contract extension worth about $78 million, which added to the involved offseason in which the Mariners traded forCliff Lee andMilton Bradley.On June 3, 2010, Hernández struck out four batters in one inning. He did so by striking outJoe Mauer on a wild pitch before striking outJustin Morneau. He was the third Mariner to accomplish this feat.
On August 25, 2010, Hernández struck outDavid Ortiz to record his 1,000th career strikeout. He became the 3rd youngest pitcher to do so since 1952, behindBert Blyleven andDwight Gooden, and also the 4th overall, behindBob Feller.
Hernández faced the Rangers on September 17, 2010, and was working on ano-hitter untilNelson Cruz broke it up with a home run in the eighth inning. In his next start, he threw a complete-game two-hitter in Toronto, surrendering only one run onJosé Bautista's 50th home run of the year in the first inning. The Mariners offense, however, was shut out by Blue Jays pitching and Hernández was dealt his twelfth loss of the season. Ten of Hernández's twelve losses were in games where the Mariners were shut out or scored only one run, and four other times, the bullpen blew a lead Hernandez turned over to them.
Despite the lackluster win–loss record, Hernández won the 2010 American LeagueCy Young Award on the strength of all of his other stats, leading the league in ERA, innings pitched, innings per start, quality starts, fewest hits per nine innings, and placing second in strikeouts, walks and hits per nine innings, and complete games, while facing the most batters in the league.[28] Hernández finished the season 13–12 with a 2.27 ERA, 232 strikeouts, and249+2⁄3 innings pitched. His 13 wins were the fewest by a starting pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in a non-shortened season (Fernando Valenzuela won the award with 13 wins in astrike-shortened season). He was also named theSporting News AL Pitcher of the Year, and was nominated for the This Year in Baseball Award.[29] TheBaseball Prospectus Internet Baseball Awards named him its AL Cy Young Winner.[30]
On May 28, 2011,[31] a special cheering section for Hernández, dubbed "King's Court", debuted in Safeco Field on the foul territory side of the left field foul pole.[32] The creation of the Mariners marketing director,[32] it marked the first time in Major League Baseball that a stadium promotion was designed around a popular player.[33] By popular demand, the cheering section was expanded from two to three sections – Sections 148, 149, and 150 – by the end of the year.[32] Seats were sold at a discount and the ticket price included a yellow "King Félix" T-shirt and a yellow placard imprinted with a large "K" to wave when cheering for strikeouts by Hernández.[32][33] "King's Court" was typically occupied by about 1,500 fans on days that Hernández started.[33] Hernández reportedly liked the cheering squad, but was able to maintain his focus and defer to temptation to throw a fastball on an 0–2 count in response to his cheering fans.[33] Whenever there was a marquee pitching matchup or a big game in which Hernández pitched, another King's Court was added in the upper deck directly above the typical King's Court. These added sections were called the "High Court". The Court remained a fixture throughout Hernández's tenure in Seattle.[34]
In 2011, Hernández was selected to the American League All-Star Team for the second time. He represented the Mariners alongside rookie starterMichael Pineda and closerBrandon League.
On August 31, 2011, Hernández struck out nine batters, giving him 204 strikeouts to that point in the season. It marked the third straight season in which he reached 200+ strikeouts.
Hernández was selected for his thirdAll-Star Game on July 1. He did not pitch in the July 3 game after AL Team manager,Ron Washington, stated Hernández's 113 pitches thrown on July 1 was the deciding factor.[35] Hernández pitched his third shutout over his past eight starts when he recorded a 1–0 win over the Yankees on August 4. He gave up two hits and won his sixth decision in a row, the third-longest stretch of his career.[36]
On August 15, Hernández threw the firstperfect game in Mariners history and the 23rd perfect game in MLB history. He recorded 12 strikeouts, five of which were in the last two innings, against theTampa Bay Rays in a 1–0 victory.[1] It was the fourthno-hitter in team history and Hernández joinedRandy Johnson andChris Bosio as the only Mariners pitchers to throw individual no-hitters. One of the club's no-hitters was combined, needing six pitchers to do so on June 8 against the Dodgers.[37] His perfect game was the last no-hitter thrown in the American League for the next three years, until his Japanese teammate,Hisashi Iwakuma succeeded him on August 12, 2015.
On February 13, 2013, Hernández signed a seven-year extension with the Mariners worth $175 million, voiding the final two years of his previous deal and including a team option for 2020.[38] The contract made him the highest-paid pitcher in Major League history until it was surpassed by the $180 million extension signed byJustin Verlander of theDetroit Tigers in March 2013.[39]
On April 22 in a 7–1 win against the Houston Astros, Hernández recorded his 100th career win. In that game Hernández pitched six innings allowed five hits, walked one and struck out nine. On July 6, 2013, Hernández was selected to his fourth All-star game. He pitched in the fourth inning, and let up one hit, but no runs were scored. Hernández had a bad August, going 1–4 with a 5.82 ERA and a .281 OBA. He made only 3 starts in September while trying to rest his oblique. In 31 starts in 2013, Hernández went 12–10 with a 3.04 ERA and 22quality starts, striking out 216 in204+1⁄3 innings. He was 5th in the American League in strikeouts, and 6th in ERA.
Hernández pitched the Mariners season opener on March 31 against theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This marks the seventh time in a row he started the season for Seattle. He got the win going 6 innings, giving up three runs (two earned), and struck out 11 Angels. The Mariners won 10–3. He won his next two starts, both against Oakland. However, Hernández would not win again until May 12. Hernández went 0–1 in that span.
On May 12, Hernández was ejected for the first time in his career against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco. When he left the game in the seventh after a three-run double, Hernández started shouting at the home plate umpire in disagreement with his calls.[40] On June 8, Hernández struck out a career-high 15 batters against the Rays in a 5–0 win. Hernández got a no-decision, as all five runs were scored after he left the game.[41] Hernández got his tenth win on June 29, 2014, against the Cleveland Indians in a 3–0 victory in eight shutout innings with just one hit.Fernando Rodney got his 23rd save pitching a perfect ninth to secure the victory.[42]
Hernández was announced as an All-Star along with teammatesRobinson Canó,Kyle Seager andFernando Rodney. On July 14, AL managerJohn Farrell announced that Hernández would be the starter for thegame. Hernández pitched the first inning of the All-Star game, he gave up one infield base hit and struck out two National League batters.[43] Between May 18 and August 11, Hernández pitched 16 straight outings going 7 or more innings and allowing 2 or fewer runs each time. This is the longest such streak in baseball history, surmounting the record previously held of 13 byTom Seaver set during the 1971 season.[44] This streak was snapped on August 16 against theDetroit Tigers. He gave up two earned runs in five innings. He had to throw 92 pitches.
Hernández won his second American League ERA title with a 2.14 ERA, three points under that ofChicago White Sox pitcherChris Sale.[45] He achieved the ERA title on the last day of the season, on September 28 against the Angels going 5.1 innings allowing no runs and seven strikeouts. In 2014, Hernández set the lowest ERA mark by an AL pitcher since Pedro Martínez in 2000. He also set the lowest WHIP by an AL pitcher (0.92) since Martinez in 2000.[46] He finished second in the ALCy Young Award race behindCleveland Indians pitcherCorey Kluber.
Hernández was again the opening day starter for the sixth straight time. Despite giving upMike Trout's first home run of the season (Trout's first 2014 and 2015 at-bats were home runs off of Hernandez), he beat the Angels 4–1 with 7 innings pitched, two hits, one earned run, and struck out 10 Angels.[47] On May 10 against the Oakland Athletics, Hernández recorded his 2,000th strikeout, becoming the fourth-youngest player to reach that milestone.[48] Hernández was selected as an All-Star along with teammateNelson Cruz byNed Yost, the 2015 All-Star Game manager. This marks his fifth straight All-Star selection and sixth overall.[49]
The season was not without its struggles for Hernández. Finishing the first two months of the season 8–1 with a 1.91 ERA, Hernández gave up 7 runs to the New York Yankees at home on June 1. On June 12, in a game against the Houston Astros, he gave up eight earned runs while only recording one out, matching the shortest outing of his career and recording a game score of 8, the second-lowest of his career. The outing increased his ERA from 2.51 to 3.38. On August 15, exactly three years to the day he threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays, he allowed a career-high 10 runs against the Boston Red Sox in only2+1⁄3 innings, recording a new career-lowgame score of −6. His ERA went up from 3.11 to 3.65.
Hernández would finish the season 18–9 with a 3.53 ERA, which was the worst ERA for Hernández ever since the 2008 season, but the most wins since his 2009 season, this time being provided with just 4.10 runs per 27 outs. He failed to reach 200 strikeouts for the first time in six years, as he had 201 innings and 191 strikeouts.
Hernández started on Opening Day again on April 4. He would lose for the first time ever on Opening Day, pitching six innings, walking five and striking out six. He gave up three runs, one earned. Two starts later at Yankee Stadium, Hernández tiedRandy Johnson for most strikeouts as a Mariner, with 2,162, striking outDidi Gregorius looking for the final out of the fifth inning.[50] The next start, Hernández surpassed Randy Johnson's record for most strikeouts by a Mariners' pitcher by striking outRafael Ortega of theLos Angeles Angels for the second out in the bottom of the first inning.[51] On May 9, Hernández recorded the 146th win of his career against theTampa Bay Rays, surpassingJamie Moyer for most wins as a Seattle Mariner. On June 1, Hernández was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a right calf strain after jumping up to celebrate a home run.[52] On August 15, Hernández earned his 150th career win, defeating Mike Trout and the Angels by a score of 3–2. This milestone win occurred on the fourth anniversary of his perfect game.
Hernández finished the season with an 11-8 record and a 3.82 earned run average.
On April 25, Hernández was removed from the game after an apparent shoulder injury. The next day, on April 26, further tests revealed that he was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation, which landed him on the 10-day disabled list.[53][54] After spending 2 months on the disabled list, he was activated on the weekend of June 24, winning a game against the Houston Astros 13-3 and striking out eight batters. On August 5, Hernández was placed on the disabled list again, due to right biceps tendinitis.[55] It was later revealed that he would miss from three to four weeks due to right shoulder bursitis.[56]
In 2017, Hernández went 6-5 with a 4.36 ERA.
On February 26, Hernández was removed from a spring training game against theChicago Cubs. He was struck on his throwing arm after a comeback hit from Cubs catcherVictor Caratini. ManagerScott Servais removed Hernández from the game, and he was later diagnosed with a contusion on his right forearm. He was listed as out for at least 10 days, though two weeks was the expected timetable for return.[57]
On March 29, 2018, Hernández made his tenth Opening Day start in a row. OnlyJack Morris,Robin Roberts andTom Seaver have made more consecutive Opening Day starts.[58] He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up no earned runs on two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. The Mariners won the game 2–1. On July 10, because of a back injury, he was placed on the disabled list for the third straight season.[59]
On August 7, 2018, Hernández allowed 11 runs in six innings in a loss to the Texas Rangers. This outing raised his season ERA to 5.73.[60] On August 9, manager Scott Servais removed Hernández from the starting rotation.[61] He made his first appearance as a reliever on August 14 against the A's when starting pitcherJames Paxton was struck by a line drive. Hernández returned to the rotation with Paxton on the disabled list.[62] Hernández finished the season with an 8–14 record and an ERA of 5.55 in155+2⁄3 innings.
On March 9, manager Scott Servais announced thatMarco Gonzales would be the Opening Day starter inTokyo, Japan, ending Hernández's streak of 10 consecutive Opening Day starts, a feat which had been accomplished by only 6 other pitchers in history.[63] Hernández began the 2019 season against theLos Angeles Angels as the Mariners' number 5 starter in the rotation, pitching 5.1 innings allowing 3 runs (only 1 earned) on 7 hits and 4 strikeouts.[64]
On May 11 against theBoston Red Sox, Hernández recorded his 2,500th strikeout by striking outMichael Chavis, becoming the sixth-youngest pitcher in Major League history to reach the 2,500 strikeout mark.[65] However, he was placed on the 10-dayinjured list after the start with a right shoulder strain.[66] In June, he went on a rehabilitation assignment with the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers.[67]On September 26, 2019, Hernández pitched in his final game of the season in a 3–1 loss to the Oakland Athletics. In the game, he threw for5+1⁄3 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 runs and walked 4 batters while striking out 3. Hernández ended the 2019 season with a 1–8 record, 57 strikeouts, and an ERA of 6.40 in71+2⁄3 innings. On October 31, Hernández became a free agent at age 33.[68]
On January 20, 2020, Hernández signed a minor league contract worth $1 million with theAtlanta Braves.[69][70] On July 4, Hernández announced that he had decided not to play in the 2020 season due to concerns about theCOVID-19 pandemic.[71][72] He became a free agent on November 2.[73]
On February 3, 2021, Hernández signed a minor league contract with theBaltimore Orioles organization.[74] Hernández pitched for Baltimore during spring training, but suffered an elbow injury in mid-March. On March 29, Hernández opted out of his contract with the Orioles and became a free agent.[75]
Hernández appeared on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2024[2] and received 20.6 percent of the votes, making him eligible for future ballots.[76]
Hernández pitched forVenezuela in the2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC). In his first outing, he pitched four innings in relief, surrendering only one hit while not allowing a run. In his next game, Hernández shut outPuerto Rico over4+2⁄3 innings. He skipped the 2013, citing ongoing contract negotiations with the Mariners. Hernández pitched in the2017 World Baseball Classic.[77] He was 0–1 with allowing one earned run in two starts.[78]
Hernández threw asinker (two-seam fastball), aslider (he avoided the slider early in his career because the team was concerned it might injure his arm), achangeup, and acurveball.[79] In 2016, Hernández's sinker averaged about 90–92 mph; four-seam fastball at 90–92 mph; slider at 84–86 mph; curveball at 79–81 mph; changeup at 87-88 mph; and the occasionalcut fastball at 88–90 mph.[80] The changeup was his most commonly used two-strike pitch,[81] and had the highestwhiff rate of his pitches.[82]
When at his best, Hernández could induce a steady procession of groundball outs andstrikeouts, with very few balls being hit in the air.[83] For example, inhis perfect game, Hernández only allowed five batted balls to even leave the infield, and after the third inning, no balls left the infield with the exception of oneBen Zobrist flyout. Meanwhile, he forced eight groundouts and struck out 12 batters.[84]
Like some other pitchers, Hernández wore a long-sleeved undershirt beneath his uniform jersey. While typically this is done to keep the pitcher's arm from getting chilled, Hernández wore it even in the hottest weather. For him, it served to keepperspiration from running down his arms and interfering with his hand's grip on the baseball.[85]
Hernández and his wife have a son and daughter and the family resides inClyde Hill, Washington.[10] His relatives call him by his middle name, Abraham.[10] Hernandez's older brother, Moises spent 12 seasons pitching inMinor League Baseball in various organizations, including the Mariners.[86]
Hernández has two dogs, King and Oreo, and he is a spokesman for the Seattle King County Humane Society. Hernández is also the Seattle Mariners Ambassador for thePepsi Refresh Project, raising money for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
In September 2018, Hernández became naturalized as a United States citizen.[87]
Hernández was inducted into theSeattle Mariners Hall of Fame on August 12, 2023, and also made the first ceremonial pitch of Game 3 of the2022 ALDS against the Houston Astros.[88]
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Perfect game pitcher August 15, 2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher August 15, 2012 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
