Michel Hernandez

Michel Hernandez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 208 lb.

• Debut September 6, 2003
• Final Game August 5, 2009
• Born August 12, 1978 in La Habana, Cuba

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Biographical Information

Catcher Michel Hernandez defected from Cuba in October 1996.

Hernandez's professional playing career lasted from 1998-2012. He played in 45 games over three seasons in the majors with the New York Yankees in 2003 and Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 and 2009. In 15 minor league seasons he hit .257 with 137 doubles, 8 triples, 35 homers and 340 RBIs in 997 games with eight different organizations (Yankees, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland).

After his playing career ended, Hernandez joined the Yankees organization as a coach with particular emphasis upon instructing catchers. He was a coach for the GCL Yankees 1 in 2013-2014, the Trenton Thunder in 2015, Charleston RiverDogs in 2016, Tampa Yankees in 2017, and Tampa Tarpons in 2018-2019. He was the catching instructor in Trenton the year Gary Sanchez first made significant defensive improvements. In 2020 Hernandez was slated for a defensive coaching role with the GCL Yankees West before COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the minor league season. Hernandez returned to Tampa as a defensive coach in 2021-2024.