Félix Hernández facts for kids

This page is about the Major League Baseball pitcher. For the Venezuelan football player, see Félix José Hernández.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Hernández and the second or maternal family name is García.

Quick facts for kids

Félix Hernández

Hernández with the Seattle Mariners in 2011

Pitcher

Born: April 8, 1986 (age 39)
Valencia, Venezuela

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

debut

August 4, 2005, for the Seattle Mariners

Last appearance

September 26, 2019, for the Seattle Mariners

MLB statistics

Win–loss record

169–136

Earned run average

3.42

Strikeouts

2,524

Teams

Seattle Mariners (2005–2019)

Career highlights and awards

6× All-Star (2009, 2011–2015)
AL Cy Young Award (2010)
MLB wins leader (2009)
2× AL ERA leader (2010, 2014)
Pitched a perfect game on August 15, 2012
Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame

Félix Abraham Hernández García (born April 8, 1986), often called "King Félix", is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2005 to 2019.

Hernández was a six-time All-Star. He led MLB in wins in 2009. He also led the American League in earned run average (ERA) in 2010 and 2014. In 2010, he won the AL Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in each league. He also played for the Venezuelan national team in the World Baseball Classic.

On August 15, 2012, Hernández made history. He threw the 23rd perfect game in MLB history. This means he pitched an entire game without any opposing player reaching base. He beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 at Safeco Field. This was the first perfect game for the Seattle Mariners team.

On April 23, 2016, Hernández set a new record for the Mariners. He got his 2,163rd strikeout, passing Randy Johnson. On May 9, 2016, he also set the club record for most wins with 146 victories.

For about ten years, Félix Hernández was one of baseball's top pitchers. Fans in Seattle loved him. He was known for being very strong and healthy. He started 30 or more games for ten seasons in a row. After turning 30, he started having injuries. His fastball became slower, and his ERA went up. After leaving the Mariners in 2019, he signed with other teams but did not play in the major leagues again.

Early Life and Baseball Start

Félix Hernández was born in Valencia, Venezuela. A Mariners scout first saw him pitch when he was only 14 years old. The scout was amazed because Félix could already throw a baseball at 90 miles per hour!

The Seattle Mariners signed Hernández when he turned 16. This was allowed by MLB rules. He received a large signing bonus of $710,000. Other teams, like the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves, offered more money. But Félix chose the Mariners.

One reason he chose the Mariners was his hero, Freddy García. García was also a pitcher from Venezuela and played for the Mariners at that time. Félix's father, Félix Sr., helped with the decision. The Mariners scouts had built trust with his family.

Professional Baseball Journey

Starting in the Minor Leagues

Before playing in the major leagues, Félix Hernández played in the minor leagues. These are smaller leagues where players develop their skills.

In 2003, he played for the Class A Everett AquaSox and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He had a good record of 7 wins and 2 losses. In 2004, he was named the Mariners' minor league pitcher of the year. He also played in the Futures Game, which showcases top young players.

By 2005, Baseball America magazine called Hernández the best pitching prospect in baseball. He had a 9-4 record with a low 2.25 ERA for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. Fans started calling him "King Felix" during these years.

Playing for the Seattle Mariners (2005–2019)

First Major League Games (2005)

Félix Hernández joined the major leagues on August 4, 2005. He was only 19 years old. This made him the youngest pitcher in MLB since 1984. He got his first major league win on August 9, 2005. He pitched eight innings without allowing any runs against the Minnesota Twins.

In his first 12 games, he had 4 wins and 4 losses. He also had 77 strikeouts and a good 2.67 ERA. After this season, the Mariners did not want him to pitch in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. They were worried about his young arm.

In 2006, he changed his uniform number to 34. This was the same number his hero, Freddy García, used to wear for the Mariners.

First Full Season (2006)

Félix started his first full year in the major leagues in 2006. He sometimes struggled but also showed his amazing talent. On June 11, he pitched his first complete game. This means he pitched the entire game without needing a relief pitcher.

On August 27, he pitched his first shutout. He allowed only five hits and needed just 95 pitches. The Mariners were careful with him. They limited him to 200 innings pitched for the season. He finished with 12 wins and 14 losses, and a 4.52 ERA. He led the Mariners in innings pitched and strikeouts.

Stronger and Healthier (2007)

In 2007, Hernández was in much better shape. The Mariners decided not to limit his innings anymore. He was chosen to be the team's Opening Day starter. He was the youngest pitcher to get this honor since 1985. He pitched eight strong innings, striking out 12 batters.

In his next game, he pitched against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He pitched a one-hit, complete-game shutout. This was a huge performance! Soon after, he had an elbow injury and was placed on the disabled list. He returned in May and slowly got back to his best. He finished the season with 14 wins and 7 losses. His 3.92 ERA was the best among the team's starting pitchers.

Grand Slam and Injuries (2008)

On June 17, 2008, Hernández achieved an "immaculate inning". This means he struck out three batters on exactly nine pitches. Later that month, he hit his first major league home run. It was a grand slam! This was very rare for an American League pitcher. However, he injured his ankle in the same game and had to miss time. He ended the season with 9 wins and 11 losses.

Leading the League in Wins (2009)

In 2009, Félix Hernández started the season very well. He was 4-0 before a small slump. His manager challenged him to "step up" as an ace pitcher. After that, he lost only two more games all year.

On June 19, he pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout. His great performance in June earned him the AL Pitcher of the Month award. On July 5, he was chosen for his first All-Star Game. By the All-Star break, he had 9 wins and 3 losses with a 2.53 ERA. He finished the season with 19 wins and 5 losses, a 2.49 ERA, and 217 strikeouts. He was a strong candidate for the AL Cy Young Award. He finished second in the voting.

Winning the Cy Young Award (2010)

Hernández pitching at Safeco Field, April 2011

On January 21, 2010, Félix Hernández signed a big 5-year contract extension with the Mariners. On August 25, 2010, he got his 1,000th career strikeout. He was one of the youngest pitchers to reach this milestone.

Despite the Mariners not winning many games, Hernández had an amazing season. He won the 2010 American League Cy Young Award. He led the league in ERA (2.27), innings pitched, and quality starts. He also had 232 strikeouts. His 13 wins were the fewest for a starting pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in a full season. This showed how dominant he was, even when his team didn't score many runs for him.

"King's Court" and All-Star (2011)

On May 28, 2011, a special cheering section for Hernández started at Safeco Field. It was called "King's Court." Fans in this section wore yellow "King Félix" T-shirts and waved yellow "K" signs for strikeouts. This was the first time in MLB a stadium promotion was built around one player. The "King's Court" became very popular.

In 2011, Hernández was chosen for his second American League All-Star Team. He also reached 200+ strikeouts for the third season in a row.

The Perfect Game (2012)

Hernández was selected for his third All-Star Game in 2012. On August 4, he pitched his third shutout of the season.

Then, on August 15, 2012, Félix Hernández made history. He threw the first perfect game in Mariners history. He struck out 12 batters against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 1-0 victory. This was the 23rd perfect game in MLB history. It was an incredible achievement!

Big Contract and More All-Star Games (2013-2015)

Hernández in 2013

On February 13, 2013, Hernández signed a huge seven-year contract extension with the Mariners. It was worth $175 million. This made him the highest-paid pitcher in Major League history at the time. On April 22, he recorded his 100th career win. He was selected for his fourth All-Star game on July 6. He finished 2013 with 12 wins and 10 losses, and a 3.04 ERA.

In 2014, Hernández started the Mariners' season opener for the seventh time in a row. On May 12, he was ejected from a game for the first time in his career. On June 8, he struck out a career-high 15 batters in one game. He was chosen to start the All-Star Game for the American League. Between May and August, he had an amazing streak of 16 straight games where he pitched 7 or more innings and allowed 2 or fewer runs. This was the longest streak in baseball history! He won his second American League ERA title with a 2.14 ERA.

In 2015, Hernández was the Opening Day starter for the sixth straight time. On May 10, he recorded his 2,000th strikeout. He was the fourth-youngest player to reach this milestone. He was selected for his fifth straight All-Star game, and sixth overall. He finished the season with 18 wins and 9 losses.

Setting Records and Injuries (2016-2018)

Félix Hernández prepares to pitch to Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, August 20, 2017.

Hernández started Opening Day again in 2016. On April 23, he broke Randy Johnson's record for most strikeouts by a Mariners pitcher. On May 9, he passed Jamie Moyer for most wins as a Seattle Mariner. He got his 150th career win on August 15, 2016, exactly four years after his perfect game. He finished 2016 with 11 wins and 8 losses.

In 2017, Hernández dealt with shoulder and biceps injuries. He spent a lot of time on the disabled list. He finished the season with 6 wins and 5 losses.

In 2018, Hernández made his tenth Opening Day start in a row. Only a few other pitchers in history have done this. He had another injury, this time to his back. On August 9, he was removed from the starting rotation. He finished the season with 8 wins and 14 losses.

Final Season with Mariners (2019)

In 2019, Marco Gonzales was named the Opening Day starter, ending Hernández's long streak. On May 11, Hernández recorded his 2,500th strikeout. He was the sixth-youngest pitcher in MLB history to reach this mark. However, he was soon placed on the injured list with a shoulder strain.

On September 26, 2019, Hernández pitched in his final game of the season. He finished 2019 with 1 win and 8 losses. On October 31, he became a free agent.

After the Mariners

Atlanta Braves

On January 20, 2020, Hernández signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves. However, he decided not to play in the 2020 season. This was due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baltimore Orioles

In February 2021, Hernández signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched for them during spring training. But he suffered an elbow injury in March. He chose to leave his contract and did not pitch for the Orioles in the regular season.

Hall of Fame Consideration

Félix Hernández became eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024. He received enough votes to be considered for future ballots.

International Baseball

Hernández played for his home country, Venezuela, in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He pitched very well, not allowing any runs in his first two games. He also played for Venezuela in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

How He Pitched

Félix Hernández was known for throwing several types of pitches. These included a sinker (a fastball that drops), a slider, a changeup, and a curveball. His changeup was often his best pitch.

When he was at his best, Hernández made batters hit ground balls or strike out. Very few balls were hit high in the air. For example, in his perfect game, only five balls were hit out of the infield. He forced eight groundouts and struck out 12 batters.

Hernández often wore a long-sleeved shirt under his uniform. This helped keep his arm warm. It also stopped sweat from running down his arms, which helped him grip the baseball better.

Personal Life

Félix Hernández lives in Clyde Hill, Washington, with his wife, son, and daughter. His family calls him by his middle name, Abraham. His older brother, Moises, also played minor league baseball.

Félix has two dogs named King and Oreo. He has also worked to support the Seattle King County Humane Society. In September 2018, Hernández became a citizen of the United States.

On August 12, 2023, Félix Hernández was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. He also threw the first ceremonial pitch for a Mariners playoff game in 2022.