Liván Hernández

Infobox MLB player


width = 250
name=Liván Hernández
position=Starting pitcher
team=Colorado Rockies
number=61
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|2|20
birthplace=Villa Clara, Cuba
debutdate=September 24
debutyear=1996
debutteam=Florida Marlins
statyear=2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=147-139
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.37
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=1,613
teams=
*Florida Marlins (by|1996-by|1999)
*San Francisco Giants (by|1999-by|2002)
*Montréal Expos (by|2003-by|2004)
*Washington Nationals (by|2005-by|2006)
*Arizona Diamondbacks (by|2006-by|2007)
*Minnesota Twins (by|2008)
*Colorado Rockies (by|2008-present)

Eisler Liván Hernández Carrera (born February 20, 1975 in Villa Clara, Cuba), (IPA| [liˈβan ɛrˈnandɛs] ), is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Colorado Rockies. He is the half-brother of pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernández.

Playing career

Hernández defected to the United States from Cuba in 1995. Hernández has played with the Florida Marlins (by|1996-by|1999|99), San Francisco Giants (1999-by|2002), Montreal Expos (by|2003–by|2004) the Washington Nationals (formerly Montreal Expos) (by|2005-by|2006), the Arizona Diamondbacks (2006-by|2007) and the Minnesota Twins (by|2008). He bats and throws right-handed. He is known for often throwing a "slow hook" sometimes going even below 60 miles per hour, as a strikeout pitch.

A two-time All-Star, Hernández is considered to be a great defensive pitcher, having made just 11 errors in his career. He is described as a workhorse; he throws many pitches, pitches many innings, and makes every start he needs to in order to provide his team's bullpen much rest. Between 1998 and 2007, he never pitched fewer than 199 innings in any given season (in 1999 he threw "only" 199 2/3 innings). He led the National League in innings pitched in three consecutive seasons, 2003 through 2005, and led the league in complete games for the first two of those years. In 2005, he once threw 150 pitches in nine innings, although the game went into extra innings after he left. In 2004 and 2005, he led the major leagues with 3,927 and 4,009 pitches, respectively. Hernández also is a dangerous hitter, helping his own cause with the bat, and won the Silver Slugger award at the pitcher position in 2004.

After the 2005 season, he had knee surgery, and his performance in the first half of 2006 suffered. At the All-Star break, he had a 5.64 ERA and allowed hitters a .308 average. But over his last five starts with the Nationals, he had a 3.27 ERA with four walks and 23 strikeouts. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/07/AR2006080700539.html] On August 7, 2006, Hernandez was traded from the Nationals to the Diamondbacks for two young pitching prospects, Matt Chico and Garrett Mock.

Minnesota Twins

On February 12, by|2008, Hernandez signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins worth $5 million, with $2 additional million for performance bonuses.

Through July 20, 2008, Hernandez led Minnesota Twins starting pitchers with 10 wins and 127.2 IP. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/pitching?team=min&cat=wins&season=2008&split=0&seasonType=2&type=reg ESPN - Minnesota Twins Pitching Statistics - MLB Baseball ] ] [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/pitching?team=min&cat=thirdInnings&season=2008&split=0&seasonType=2&type=reg ESPN - Minnesota Twins Pitching Statistics - MLB Baseball ] ] He is 10-6 with 5.29 ERA and 47 strikeouts [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5734 ESPN - Livan Hernandez Stats, News, Photos - Colorado Rockies ] ] On August 1, 2008, Hernandez was designated for assignment to make room for Francisco Liriano.

Colorado Rockies

On August 6, Hernandez was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies.

Highlights

* World Series Champion: Florida Marlins (1997)
* Two-Time All-Star: (2004 & 2005)
* NL Championship Series MVP: Florida Marlins (1997)
* World Series MVP Award: (1997)
* Three times led league in innings pitched: (2003, 2004, & 2005)
* Twice led league in complete games: (2003 & 2004)
* Silver Slugger Award winner: (2004)

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
* List of NL Silver Slugger Winners at Pitcher

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb=115817 |espn=3573 |br=h/hernali01|fangraphs= 1116|cube=H/livan-hernandez