Félix Hernández facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Félix Hernández
Hernández with the Seattle Mariners in 2011
Pitcher
Born: (1986-04-08) 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) is a former professional baseball pitcher from Venezuela. He is often called "King Félix". He played for the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2005 to 2019.

Hernández was one of baseball's best pitchers for many years. He led all of 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. He was also chosen for the American League All-Star team six times.

On August 15, 2012, Félix Hernández made history. He threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. This means no batter reached base against him the entire game. It was the 23rd perfect game in MLB history. It was also the first perfect game for the Seattle Mariners team. Hernández set a new record for Mariners pitchers. On April 23, 2016, he got his 2,163rd strikeout. This broke the old record held by Randy Johnson. He also set the club record for wins with 146 on May 9, 2016.

Félix Hernández was a fan favorite in Seattle. He was known for being very strong and rarely missing games. He started 30 or more games for 10 years in a row. Later in his career, he had some injuries. His fastball speed also went down. After leaving the Mariners in 2019, he signed with other teams. However, he did not play in the major leagues again. In 2024, he was on the ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time.

Early Life and Baseball Start

Félix Hernández was born in Valencia, Venezuela. A scout for the Seattle Mariners saw him pitch when he was only 14 years old. He could already throw a baseball very fast, around 90 miles per hour. The Mariners signed him as soon as he turned 16. This was allowed by MLB rules.

After high school, Hernández signed his first professional contract. He got a large bonus of $710,000. He chose the Mariners even though other teams offered more money. One reason was that his hero, Freddy García, also a Venezuelan pitcher, played for the Mariners. His family also trusted the Mariners' plans for his future.

Professional Baseball Career

Minor Leagues

In 2003, Hernández played for the Everett AquaSox and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He was named the Mariners' best minor league pitcher in 2004. He also played in the All-Star Futures Game. In 2005, Baseball America called him the best pitching prospect in baseball. He played for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. He had a great record of 9 wins and 4 losses. He also had a low 2.25 ERA.

Fans started calling him "King Felix" when he was still in the minor leagues.

Seattle Mariners (2005–2019)

First Years (2005–2008)

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. He finished his first season with 4 wins and 4 losses. He had a good 2.67 ERA.

In 2006, Hernández began his first full year in the major leagues. He threw his first complete game on June 11. This means he pitched the whole game without needing a relief pitcher. On August 27, he pitched his first shutout. This means he pitched a complete game without allowing any runs. He finished the season with 12 wins and 14 losses. He also led the Mariners with 176 strikeouts.

In 2007, Hernández was chosen to be the Mariners' Opening Day starter. This is a big honor for a pitcher. He pitched a one-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox. This was a very impressive game. He later had an elbow injury and was placed on the disabled list. He finished the season with 14 wins and 7 losses.

On June 17, 2008, Hernández threw an "immaculate inning". This means he struck out three batters on exactly nine pitches. Later that month, he hit his first career home run. It was a grand slam, meaning he hit it with the bases loaded. This was very rare for an American League pitcher. He finished the season with 9 wins and 11 losses.

Becoming an Ace (2009–2012)

In 2009, Hernández had a fantastic season. He won the AL Pitcher of the Month award in June. On July 5, he was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He finished the season with 19 wins and 5 losses. He had a very low 2.49 ERA and 217 strikeouts. He finished second in the voting for the AL Cy Young Award.

On January 21, 2010, Hernández signed a big contract with the Mariners. On August 25, 2010, he got his 1,000th career strikeout. He was one of the youngest pitchers ever to reach this milestone. Despite his team not scoring many runs for him, Hernández won the 2010 American League Cy Young Award. He led the league in ERA (2.27) and innings pitched. He finished the season with 13 wins and 12 losses.

In 2011, a special cheering section for Hernández started at Safeco Field. It was called "King's Court". Fans would get yellow "King Félix" T-shirts. They would wave yellow "K" signs for strikeouts. This cheering section became very popular. Hernández was chosen for his second All-Star team. He also reached 200+ strikeouts for the third year in a row.

On August 15, 2012, Hernández made history. He threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He struck out 12 batters in the game. This was the first perfect game in Mariners history. It was also the 23rd perfect game in MLB history. He was chosen for his third All-Star Game that year.

Later Years (2013–2019)

On February 13, 2013, Hernández signed a new, very large contract with the Mariners. On April 22, he got his 100th career win. He was selected for his fourth All-Star Game. He finished the season with 12 wins and 10 losses.

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. He was chosen to start the All-Star Game for the American League. Between May and August, he had an amazing streak. He pitched 16 straight games where he went 7 or more innings and allowed 2 or fewer runs. This was a new baseball record. He won his second American League ERA title with a 2.14 ERA. He finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

In 2015, Hernández started Opening Day for the sixth year in a row. On May 10, he recorded his 2,000th strikeout. He was the fourth-youngest player to reach this milestone. He was chosen for his fifth straight All-Star selection. He finished the season with 18 wins and 9 losses.

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

In 2017 and 2018, Hernández dealt with several injuries. He was placed on the disabled list multiple times. In 2018, he was even removed from the starting rotation for a short time. He finished 2018 with 8 wins and 14 losses.

In 2019, Hernández's streak of 10 straight Opening Day starts ended. He was placed on the injured list in May with a shoulder strain. On September 26, 2019, he pitched his final game of the season. He became a free agent on October 31.

After the Mariners

In 2020, Hernández signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves. However, he decided not to play that season due to health concerns. In 2021, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He had an elbow injury during spring training and did not play for them in the regular season.

International Career

Hernández played for his home country, Venezuela, in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He pitched very well in that tournament. He also played for Venezuela in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Pitching Style

Hernández used several different types of pitches. He threw a sinker (a fastball that moves downward). He also threw a slider, a changeup, and a curveball. Sometimes he would throw a cut fastball. His changeup was often his best pitch.

When he was pitching 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 also struck out 12 batters.

Hernández often wore a long-sleeved shirt under his uniform. This helped keep his arm from getting cold. It also stopped sweat from running down his arm. This helped him keep a good grip on the baseball.

Personal Life

Félix Hernández is married and has a son and a daughter. His family lives in Washington state. His relatives call him by his middle name, Abraham. He has two dogs named King and Oreo. He also helps raise money for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

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. This is a special honor for players who have made a big impact on the team.

Images for kids

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  Hernández pitching at Safeco Field, April 2011

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  Hernández in 2013

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  Félix Hernández pitches to Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, Aug. 20, 2017.

See also

In Spanish: Félix Hernández (beisbolista) para niños