Runelvys Hernández

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Runelvys Hernandez
position=Starting pitcher
team=Houston Astros
number=50
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|4|27
birthplace=Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
debutdate=July 15
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Kansas City Royals
statyear=September 13, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=25-36
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.50
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=246
teams=
*Kansas City Royals (by|2002-by|2006)
*Houston Astros (by|2008)

Runelvys Antonio Hernandez (born April 27, 1978 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Houston Astros. Hernandez formerly pitched for the Kansas City Royals.

Hernandez made his Major League debut July 15, mlby|2002, with Kansas City. His encouraging rookie campaign manifested itself in a 4-4 record with a 4.36 ERA in 74⅓ innings of work over 12 starts.

Initially thought of as the right-handed ace of the mlby|2003 Royals team that posted the franchise's first winning record in nine seasons, Hernandez became the opening-day pitcher by winning Royals' manager Tony Peña's coin toss against left-hander Jeremy Affeldt. After spending the first five weeks on the leaderboard in almost every pitching category, Hernandez faltered as he tried to pitch through pain, and his season ended after 16 starts. He finished the season with a 7-5 record, but missed the entire mlby|2004 season with Tommy John surgery.

On July 17, mlby|2005, Hernandez ignited a bench-clearing brawl by hitting Detroit Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillén in the head to lead off the sixth inning. The two continued to exchange words down the first base line, and Hernandez threw down his glove and went after Guillén. In all, seven players were ejected, most notably Kyle Farnsworth, who tackled Jeremy Affeldt to reignite the situation that had been settling down. Later in his Royals career, Hernandez got into a scuffle with batterymate John Buck.

On August 26, mlby|2006, Hernandez pitched his first complete game shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays. The win was made even more special because he defeated Roy Halladay, one of the best pitchers in the game.

Hernandez was released by the Royals on December 7, 2006, and signed to a minor-league contract by the Boston Red Sox on December 22, 2006. The contract he signed with the Red Sox included an opt-out clause that would become effective if he was not on the Major League roster by June 1. On that date, he exercised that option and was released. [http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=1004256.] On June 5, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He was released a month later on July 6. On July 17, he signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but would be released less than a month later.

On January 17, by|2008, Hernandez signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. Hernandez was suspended 50 games beginning at the start of the by|2009 season after testing positive for an amphetamine in the minors on September 6. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20080907/ca_pr_on_ba/bbl_astros_hernandez_2 "Astros minor leaguer Runelvys Hernandez suspended for amphetamine "] . September 7, 2008, "Yahoo.com". Retrieved on September 13, 2008.]

References

External links

*baseball-reference|id=h/hernaru03