Michel Hernández
| Michel Hernández | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Baltimore Orioles – No. 71 | |
| Catcher | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| September 6, 2003, for the New York Yankees | |
| Career statistics (through 2010 season) | |
| Batting average | .237 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 12 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Michel Hernandez (born August 12, 1978, in La Habana, Cuba) is a Major League Baseball catcher who is currently a player for the Baltimore Orioles.
Professional career
Hernandez was originally signed by the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 1998.
From 1998 to 2003, Hernandez was in the Yankees organization. Hernandez was first placed on the 40-man roster on November 21, 2002, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. On September 1, 2003, Hernandez was called up by the major league team. On September 6, against the Boston Red Sox, Hernandez made his major league debut, coming into the game as a defensive replacement for Jorge Posada. On September 26, against the Baltimore Orioles, Hernandez made his first career start and got his first career hit, a single off Rodrigo López. In total, Hernandez played in 5 games in 2003, going 1-4.
On January 8, 2004, Hernandez was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox. Prior to that, he had been designated for assignment on December 23, 2003. On March 24, 2004, Hernandez was claimed off waivers again, this time by the Philadelphia Phillies. Hernandez would go on to play the entire 2004 season with the Phillies Triple-A team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. He split time with veteran A. J. Hinch, with both playing 77 games. Hernandez batted .254 with 6 home runs and 31 RBI. On December 20, 2004, Hernandez was designated for assignment. The next day, he became a free agent, as the Phillies decline to offer him a new contract.
Hernandez signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres on January 18, 2005. He was invited to spring training and there he hit .520 in 19 games. Hernandez did not make the major league team and was reassigned to the minor leagues on April 2. Hernandez spent the entire 2005 season in Triple-A with the Portland Beavers. In 82 games, he batted .288 with 3 home runs. After the season, Hernandez opted for minor league free agency on October 28. On November 14, 2005, the St. Louis Cardinals signed him to a one-year major league contract.
Hernandez spent the entire 2006 season in Triple-A again. Playing for the Memphis Redbirds, he batted .274 with 2 home runs in 90 games. Hernandez was designated for assignment on January 29, 2007 and was outrighted to Triple-A the next day. On March 5, 2007, Hernandez was reassigned to minor league camp and became a free agent.
Hernandez began the 2007 season in the independent league, playing for the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League.[1] Through 25 games with them, he batted .342. On June 9, Hernandez was signed to a minor league contract by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He finished the 2007 season in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls. In 51 games for the Bulls, he batted .276 with 4 home runs. After the season, he opted for minor league free agency on November 3.
On December 21, 2007, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Hernandez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He did not make the team and was assigned to play for Triple-A Indianapolis. On August 31, 2008, Hernandez was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. Due to an injury to regular backup Shawn Riggans, he was active for the entire 2008 postseason. He did not appear in any playoff games and was released after the postseason ended, but re-signed to a minor league contract in January.
On April 14, 2009, Hernandez's contract was purchased by the Rays when Shawn Riggans was placed on the 15 day disabled list.
On the 30th of April, 2009 he hit his first home run of the season (also of his career) against the Red Sox's starter Josh Beckett.
On August 8, 2009, Hernandez was designated for assignment to make room on the active roster for Gregg Zaun.
On November 10. 2009, Hernandez was signed by the Baltimore Orioles
Personal
A native of Cuba, Hernandez now lives in Tampa. In 1996, with the Havana Industriales, he and four other teammates fled a stadium in Mexico while they were there for a series of games.[2]
References
- ^ "Pirates sign four Minor League free agents". mlb.com. December 21, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
- ^ Metz, Chris (April 4, 2005). "Portland Beavers' Opening Day roster announced". Retrieved January 5, 2008. [dead link]
External links
- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
- 1978 births
- Living people
- Major League Baseball players from Cuba
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Tampa Yankees players
- Gulf Coast Yankees players
- Columbus Clippers players
- New York Yankees players
- Tampa Bay Rays players
- Portland Beavers players
- Memphis Redbirds players
- Durham Bulls players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- Somerset Patriots players
- People from Havana