Félix Hernández
| Position | Pitcher |
|---|---|
| Team | Seattle Mariners |
| Number | #59 |
| Date of Birth | 8th April, 1986 |
| Height | 6' 3" |
| Weight | 225 lbs |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| Place of Birth | Valencia, Venezuela |
Félix Abraham Hernández (born April 8, 1986 in Valencia, Venezuela) is a baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. At 19 years of age, he is widely considered the Mariners' top pitching prospect and one of the best in baseball. Baseball America listed him in 2005 as the No. 1 pitching prospect and No. 2 overall behind Delmon Young. He throws a fastball that has been clocked as high as 98 mph, along with a curve and a changeup. All three are considered potential strikeout pitches. Hernández also possesses an equally deadly slider that the team rarely allows him to use, out of concern that it might injure his arm.
Hernández has been given the nickname King Felix, a title that matches the moniker of teenage basketball phenom LeBron James. The USS Mariner weblog invented the nickname in July 2003[1], when Hernández was just starting out in the minor leagues.
Discovery as a prospect
Hernández was first spotted by Luis Fuenmayor, a part-time Mariners scout who saw him pitching at age 14 in a tournament near Maracaibo, Venezuela. Fuenmayor recommended Hernández to fellow scouts Pedro Avila and Emilio Carrasquel, who were impressed with the youngster who could already throw 94 mph. The Mariners continued to follow Hernández for over a year, but baseball rules prohibit teams from signing players to contracts until after they have turned 16.
After graduating from high school, Hernández finally agreed to his first professional contract. Mariners director of international operations Bob Engle signed Hernández as a nondrafted free agent on July 4, 2002. Hernández received a large signing bonus of $710,000, although he said the Mariners were not the highest bidder. Other teams trying to sign him included the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves, and the Houston Astros, with the Braves reportedly offering the most money. One reason Hernández chose the Mariners is because his idol, fellow Venezuelan pitcher Freddy García, was pitching for the team at the time. His agent, Wil Polidor, also attributed the decision to the influence of Hernández's father Felix Sr.
Minor league career
The following year, Hernández came to the United States and began pitching in the Mariners' minor league system. In 2003, Hernández tore through Class-A with a 7-2 mark in Everett and Wisconsin. Returning to his native Venezuela to pitch in the winter league there, he held his own at 17 years of age against competition that included established major league players.
Hernández was named the Mariners' minor league pitcher of the year in 2004, a season that also saw him make an appearance in the Futures Game. He started with Inland Empire in the California League, before being promoted to Double-A San Antonio, and finished a combined 14-4 with a 2.95 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 149 1-3 innings pitched. He continued his success in 2005 with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers in the Pacific Coast League, posting a 9-4 record with a league-leading 2.25 ERA and 100 strikeouts in just 88 innings. Hernández was selected for the Triple-A All-Star Game but did not participate as he spent a month on the disabled list with shoulder bursitis. He was also named PCL Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.
Major league debut
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 the Detroit Tigers. At 19 years, 118 days, he was the youngest pitcher to appear in the major leagues since José Rijo in 1984. Hernández earned his first major league win in his next outing on August 9, 2005, pitching eight shutout innings in a 1-0 victory at home over the Minnesota Twins. Over his first several starts, he registered a streak of 112 batters faced before he allowed his first extra-base hit, a double by Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox.
References
- Andriesen, David. Mariners prospect Felix Hernandez 'untouchable' - Seattle P-I
- Morosi, Jon Paul. Big cast was involved in courtship of Felix - Seattle P-I
- Schwarz, Alan. Teenage pitching debuts - ESPN.com
- CBS SportsLine report