Fernando Hernández (Cuba)

Fernando Hernández Rodríguez (El Caballero, El pelotero de los niños)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.

• Born May 30, 1955 in Guanajay Cuba
• Died October 7, 2017 in Pinar del Río, Pinar del Río Cuba

BR register page

Biographical Information

Fernando Hernández was a MVP in Cuba and played for the Cuban national team.

He debuted in the Cuban Serie Nacional in 1972. He was 1 for 5 for Cuba when they won Gold in the 1979 Pan American Games. He had his best season in 1981-1982, leading the league in average (.376), runs (40) and hits (77) while taking home the Serie Nacional MVP; he was the second straight Vegueros player to win, following Rogelio García.

In the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games, he hit .320 and Cuba won Silver. He batted .278 when they won Gold in the 1983 Intercontinental Cup and was 4 for 10 and got another Gold at the 1983 Pan American Games. His 20 doubles in 1984-1985 tied Pedro Luis Rodríguez for the league lead. His last national team appearance was in the 1985 Intercontinental Cup; he was 3 for 10 and Cuba won Gold.

El Caballero drove in 12 runs in a game on December 25, 1988-1989 to break Raúl Reyes' 20-year-old mark; Alexei Bell would tie him 21 years later. He retired after 1991-1992, having hit .284/.341/.448 with 198 homers, 866 runs and 867 RBI in 1,566 games. As of 2022, he was among Cuba's career leaders in runs (59th), hits (61st, between Pedro Jova and Pedro Luis Rodríguez), doubles (52nd), homers (42nd), total bases (2,530, 49th, between Yorelvis Charles and Rudy Reyes) and RBI (45th, between Osvaldo Arias and Ermidelio Urrutia).

After his playing career ended, he coached youth baseball before having a stroke in 2007.