Michel Hernandez

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Michel Hernandez
position=Catcher
team=Tampa Bay Rays
number=41
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|8|12
birthplace=Havana, Cuba
debutdate=September 6
debutyear=2003
debutteam=New York Yankees
statyear=2007
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.250
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=0
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=0
teams=
*New York Yankees (by|2003)
*Tampa Bay Rays (by|2008-present)

Michel Hernandez (born August 12, 1978 in La Habana, Cuba) is a Major League Baseball catcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Professional career

Hernandez was originally signed by the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent on May 11, by|1998.

From 1998 to by|2003, Hernandez was in the Yankees organization. Hernandez was first placed on the 40-man roster on November 21, by|2002, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. On September 1, mlby|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, by|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, by|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 by|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, by|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. [cite news |last= |first= |title=Pirates sign four Minor League free agents
url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20071221&content_id=2335729&vkey=pr_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |work=mlb.com |date=2007-12-21 |accessdate=2008-01-05 ] 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, by|2008, Hernandez was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations.

Personal

A native of Cuba, Hernandez now lives in Venezuela. 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. [cite news |last=Metz |first=Chris |title=Portland Beavers' Opening Day roster announced
url=http://www.kgw.com/sports/stories/kgw_040405_sports_beavers_roster.1a7526689.html |work= |date=2005-04-04 |accessdate=2008-01-05 ]

References

External links