Pedro Hernandez (hernape02)

Pedro Michel Hernandez

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 200 lb.

• Debut July 18, 2012
• Final Game July 31, 2014
• Born April 12, 1989 in Barquisimeto, Lara Venezuela

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Biographical Information

Pedro Hernandez is a left-handed pitcher who reached the majors with the Chicago White Sox in 2012.

He was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the San Diego Padres out of Venezuela in 2007; the scout was Yfrain Linares. Hernandez spent his first two season, in 2007 and 2008, with the DSL Padres. He was 0-1, 2.02 in 9 games the first year, then an excellent 7-2, 1.42 in 14 games the second. He tied Eliecer Navarro for 11th in the pitching-friendly Dominican Summer League in ERA, tied for 8th in wins and had 74 strikeouts to a mere 6 walks in 63 1/3 innings.

His first experience of the U.S. minors came in 2009, when he started the season with the AZL Padres, where he was 4-0, 3.78 in 7 games, and then the Eugene Emeralds, where things did not go so well, as his 9.92 ERA in 6 games attests. He allowed a whopping .408 average for Eugene. In 2010, pitching for the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the Midwest League, he was 4-3, 4.04 in 29 games as a swingman. His control remained a strong point with 17 walks in 100 1/3 innings.

Hernandez showed real potential in 2011, going a combined 10-3, 3.49 in 28 games between three teams, reaching all the way to AAA. He started the season with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League, with a record of 5-0, 2.70 in 15 games, once again shuffling between the bullpen and the starting rotation. However, after he was promoted to the AA San Antonio Missions of the Texas League, he stuck to a starter role. He was 3-2, 3.48 in 9 games, and earned another promotion, this time to the Pacific Coast League and the Tucson Padres; he was 2-1 in 4 starts there, but in the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League, his ERA was 6.00 in 18 innings. He pitched a career-high 116 innings between the three teams, striking out 94 against 22 walks. Now a genuine prospect, he was traded to the White Sox on December 31st, joining teammate Simon Castro as the two youngsters headed to the Windy City in exchange for All-Star OF Carlos Quentin.

Hernandez had a very good start to 2012 with the Birmingham Barons at 7-2, 2.75. He was called up to AAA and had a 3.75 ERA in two outings for the Charlotte Knights before being called to the majors to replace Jhan Marinez. In his only start before being sent back down, he was hammered for 12 hits and 8 runs in 4 innings in taking a loss against the Boston Red Sox, with two three-run dingers by Cody Ross the big blows. He only made one other appearance with Charlotte before being traded to the Minnesota Twins on July 28th, alongside infielder Eduardo Escobar in return for P Francisco Liriano.

Related Sites

• Pedro Hernandez on mlb.com