José Hernández (baseball)

Infobox MLB retired
name=José Hernández


position=Infielder
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1969|7|14
Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
debutdate=August 9
debutyear=by|1991
debutteam=Texas Rangers
finaldate=October 1
finalyear=by|2006
finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.252
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=168
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=603
teams=
* Texas Rangers (by|1991)
* Cleveland Indians (by|1992, by|2005)
* Chicago Cubs (by|1994-by|1999, by|2003)
* Atlanta Braves (by|1999)
* Milwaukee Brewers (by|2000-by|2002)
* Colorado Rockies (by|2003)
* Pittsburgh Pirates (by|2003, by|2006)
* Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2004)
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|2006)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (2002)

José Antonio Hernández Figueroa (born July 14, 1969 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico) is a former Major League Baseball infielder. Hernández has played with the Texas Rangers (by|1991), Cleveland Indians (by|1992, by|2005), Chicago Cubs (by|1994-by|1999, by|2003), Atlanta Braves (1999), Milwaukee Brewers (by|2000-2003), Colorado Rockies (2003), and Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2004). He bats and throws right-handed.

In a 15-season career, Hernández has compiled a .254 batting average with 159 home runs and 563 RBI in 1408 games.

Primarily a shortstop, Hernández has played every position except pitcher. His most productive season came in by|2001 with Milwaukee, when he posted career highs in home runs (24), RBI (77), hits (151), doubles (26) and games (152). Despite his .249 average, he posted a .356 on base percentage.

In by|2002, Hernandez struck out 188 times, one shy of the MLB record. Former Brewers manager Jerry Royster kept Hernandez out of the lineup in four of the last five games of the season, so he would not break the dubious record. Brewers fans also began cheering for Hernandez to break the record. He led the majors in highest strikeout percentage (35.8%). [http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2002]

In 2002, Hernández hit 24 home runs with 73 RBI and a career-high .288 average, and he was selected for the All-Star Game. He spent the entire 2004 season with the Dodgers in a utility role, hitting .289 (61-211) with 12 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs and 29 RBI in 95 games for the National League West champions. Hernández recorded 26 extra base hits and a .540 slugging percentage in just 211 at bats. Only Anaheim's Troy Glaus (207 AB, 18 HR) hit more home runs in the majors in 2004 among players with 215 or fewer at bats.

José signed on with the Cleveland Indians for the by|2005 to begin his second tenure with the team. He played in 84 games and hit .231 with six home runs and 31 runs batted.

Before the by|2006 season, Hernández signed a minor league contract with the Pirates that included an invitation to spring training, and an opportunity to compete for a spot on the team. After playing only 67 games for Pittsburgh, the Phillies purchased his contract from the Pirates on August 22, 2006. He became a free agent after the season.

Hernández returned to the Pirates organization for the third time when he agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training on January 3, by|2007. He was unconditionally released on March 30. Hernández signed a contract with the Indianapolis Indians, the AAA-affiliate of the Pirates, on April 13. In 99 games, he hit .242 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI.

Hernández also set a Puerto Rican Winter League record with 20 home runs for Mayagüez during the by|1997-by|1998 season.

ee also

* Top 500 home run hitters of all time

External links

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