Michel Hernández
| Michel Hernández | |
|---|---|
 Hernández with the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: August 12, 1978 Havana, Cuba | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 6, 2003, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 5, 2009, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .237 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 12 |
| Teams | |
Michel Hernández (born August 12, 1978) is a
Professional career
Hernández defected from Cuba in 1996.[1] He signed with the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 1998.
From 1998 to
On January 8,
Hernández 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. Hernández did not make the major league team and was reassigned to the minor leagues on April 2. Hernández 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, Hernández 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.
Hernández spent the entire 2006 season in Triple-A again. Playing for the Memphis Redbirds, he batted .274 with 2 home runs in 90 games. Hernández was designated for assignment on January 29, 2007 and was outrighted to Triple-A the next day. On March 5, 2007, Hernández was reassigned to minor league camp and became a free agent.
Hernández began the 2007 season in the independent league, playing for the
On December 21, 2007, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Hernández 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, Hernández 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 April 30, 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, Hernández was designated for assignment to make room on the active roster for Gregg Zaun.
On November 10, 2009, Hernández was signed by the Baltimore Orioles.
Hernández signed a minor league contract with the
Personal life
A native of Cuba, Hernández now lives in
See also
References
- ^ "Defector Declined Help Before". The New York Times. 10 November 1996.
- mlb.com. December 21, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
- ^ "The 2016 TY Coaching Staff | MiLB.com". www.milb.com. Archived from the original on 2017-07-24.
- ^ Metz, Chris (April 4, 2005). "Portland Beavers' Opening Day roster announced". Retrieved January 5, 2008. [dead link]
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Cuban Baseball Career statistics