Luis Hernández (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Luís Andres Hernández Mendoza (born June 26, 1984 in Quíbor, Lara
, Venezuela
) is a Venezuela
n professional baseball
shortstop
who is a free agent.
on September 16, 2000. He spent five seasons in the Braves' minor league organization, but only played 19 games for their AAA affiliate, the Richmond Braves
, before moving to Baltimore.
on October 12, 2006. He made his major league debut for the Orioles as a late-inning defensive replacement July 8, 2007 against the Texas Rangers
. Luis collected his first major league hit, a double
, in his second career game on July 12, 2007. The game was played at Camden Yards
, against the Chicago White Sox
. Hernández got his hit, a line drive
to center field
, off of the first pitch he saw from White Sox relief pitcher
Dewon Day
in the bottom of the ninth inning. He also got his first major league RBI
on the play, as Jay Gibbons
came in to score. His first major league home run was hit on September 27, 2007 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hernández was penciled in as the Orioles' starting shortstop for the 2008 season, but faced Spring Training
competition from Brandon Fahey
. Considered an "all-defense" player, Hernández and Fahey vied for the position vacated by Miguel Tejada
, who was traded to the Houston Astros
over the offseason. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
. Hernández was released on January 19, 2010.
on August 27, 2010. Hernández played in seventeen games for the Mets in 2010, hitting two home runs with six runs batted in
. His season ended after hitting a foul ball off his right foot, breaking a bone in his foot on September 18, although he still managed to hit a home run on the next pitch. On October 17, 2011, he declared for free agency.
Lara (state)
Lara State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. The state capital is Barquisimeto.Lara State covers a total surface area of and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 1,795,100.- Municipalities and municipal seats :...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) is a Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who is a free agent.
Atlanta Braves
Hernández was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on September 16, 2000. He spent five seasons in the Braves' minor league organization, but only played 19 games for their AAA affiliate, the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
, before moving to Baltimore.
Baltimore Orioles
Hernández was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
on October 12, 2006. He made his major league debut for the Orioles as a late-inning defensive replacement July 8, 2007 against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Luis collected his first major league hit, a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, in his second career game on July 12, 2007. The game was played at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
, against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Hernández got his hit, a line drive
Line drive
In baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
to center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, off of the first pitch he saw from White Sox relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Dewon Day
Dewon Day
Amos Dewon Day is a relief pitcher who is currently in the Oakland Athletics organization. He had two brief stints with the Chicago White Sox in , sandwiched around a trip to the disabled list...
in the bottom of the ninth inning. He also got his first major league RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
on the play, as Jay Gibbons
Jay Gibbons
Jay Jonathan Gibbons is an American professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball. Gibbons was a graduate of Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California...
came in to score. His first major league home run was hit on September 27, 2007 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hernández was penciled in as the Orioles' starting shortstop for the 2008 season, but faced Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
competition from Brandon Fahey
Brandon Fahey
Brandon Michael Fahey is a Major League Baseball utility player and is a free agent. He played high school baseball for Marshfield High School in Marshfield, Wisconsin...
. Considered an "all-defense" player, Hernández and Fahey vied for the position vacated by Miguel Tejada
Miguel Tejada
Miguel Odalis Tejada was a Major League Baseball infielder who has played for the San Francisco Giants, the San Diego Padres, the Houston Astros, the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics...
, who was traded to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
over the offseason. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Kansas City Royals
In November, Hernández signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. He added to the major league roster on May 3, 2009. On July 6, 2009, he was designated for assignment to make room for the newly acquired Ryan FreelRyan Freel
Ryan Paul Freel is a retired baseball utility player. He played second base, third base, and all three outfield positions.-MLB career:...
. Hernández was released on January 19, 2010.
New York Mets
The Mets purchased Hernández's contract from the Buffalo BisonsBuffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
on August 27, 2010. Hernández played in seventeen games for the Mets in 2010, hitting two home runs with six runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. His season ended after hitting a foul ball off his right foot, breaking a bone in his foot on September 18, although he still managed to hit a home run on the next pitch. On October 17, 2011, he declared for free agency.