Orlando Hernández facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orlando Hernández
Hernández with the New York Mets in 2007
Pitcher
Born: (1965-10-11) October 11, 1965 (age 59) Villa Clara, Cuba
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
June 3, 1998, for the New York Yankees
Last appearance
September 30, 2007, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	90–65
Earned run average	4.13
Strikeouts	1,086
Teams
New York Yankees (1998–2002, 2004) Chicago White Sox (2005) Arizona Diamondbacks (2006) New York Mets (2006–2007)
Career highlights and awards
4× World Series champion (1998–2000, 2005) ALCS MVP (1999)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  Cuba Olympic Games Gold 1992 Barcelona Team Baseball World Cup Gold 1988 Rome Team Gold 1990 Edmonton Team Gold 1994 Managua Team Intercontinental Cup Gold 1993 Italy Team Gold 1995 Havana Team Pan American Games Gold 1995 Mar del Plata Team Central American and Caribbean Games Gold 1993 Ponce Team Goodwill Games Gold 1990 Seattle Team

Orlando Hernández Pedroso (born October 11, 1965), known as "El Duque" (which means "The Duke" in Spanish), is a former professional baseball pitcher. He was born in Cuba. He played for teams in the Cuban National Series and later for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These MLB teams included the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Mets. He also played for the Cuban national baseball team in international games.

Hernández was a very successful starting pitcher for the Yankees. He helped them win the World Series three years in a row: 1998, 1999, and 2000. He also won another World Series in 2005 with the Chicago White Sox. He was the first player ever to win both an Olympic gold medal and a World Series championship.

Fans knew Hernández for his unique pitching style. He had a very high leg kick when he threw the ball. He also often used a special slow pitch called an Eephus pitch. He was especially good at pitching in the playoffs, which are the important games at the end of the season.

Playing Baseball in Cuba

Orlando Hernández played for the Industriales team in Havana, Cuba. He helped them win the Cuban National Series championship in 1992 and 1996. Over ten years in the National Series, he had a great record of 126 wins and 47 losses. His ERA was 3.05, which is very good. He had the best winning percentage in the league's history.

Hernández was also a key player for the Cuba national baseball team. He won a gold medal with the team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Journey to Major League Baseball

In 1995, Orlando's half-brother, Liván Hernández, left Cuba. After this, Orlando was not allowed to play for the Cuban national team in the 1996 Summer Olympics. Later, he was questioned by Cuban authorities and then banned from Cuban baseball.

In December 1997, Hernández left Cuba by boat. He was found by the U.S. Coast Guard in Bahamian waters. After some time, he was able to go to Costa Rica. This allowed him to sign a contract as a free agent with a Major League Baseball team. He then signed a four-year contract with the New York Yankees.

Major League Baseball Career

Playing for the New York Yankees

1998: A Strong Start

In 1998, his first year in Major League Baseball, Hernández had a record of 12 wins and 4 losses. His ERA was 3.13. He helped the Yankees win the 1998 World Series against the San Diego Padres. He was one of the top new players in the American League that year.

1999: An Amazing Season

The year 1999 was Hernández's best in MLB. He won 17 games and lost 9. He also had his highest number of strikeouts (157) and innings pitched (214.1) as a Yankee. In one funny moment, he threw his glove with the ball in it to first base to get an out!

In the 1999 American League Championship Series, he pitched very well against the Boston Red Sox. He was named the ALCS Most Valuable Player (MVP) as the Yankees won the series. He then started Game 1 of the 1999 World Series against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched seven strong innings, helping the Yankees win the game and sweep the series.

2000: Another World Series Win

In 2000, Hernández had a record of 12 wins and 13 losses. The Yankees went on to win their third straight 2000 World Series title, beating the New York Mets. From 1998 to 2000, Hernández was excellent in the playoffs, with 8 wins and only 1 loss.

2001 and 2002 Seasons

In 2001, Hernández had a 4–7 record. The Yankees made it to the 2001 World Series again but lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2002, he had 8 wins and 5 losses. The Yankees reached the playoffs for the fifth year in a row but lost to the Anaheim Angels.

Time with Other Teams

Montreal Expos and Injuries

In 2003, Hernández was traded to the Montreal Expos. However, he missed the entire season because of a shoulder injury that needed surgery. He never played a game for the Expos.

Return to the Yankees

Hernández pitching for the Yankees in 2004.

Hernández returned to the New York Yankees in 2004. He missed the start of the season while recovering from his surgery. He pitched in 15 games, winning 8 and losing 2. The Yankees made the playoffs again, but they lost to the Boston Red Sox.

Chicago White Sox and a Fourth World Series

Hernández with the White Sox in 2005

In 2005, Hernández played for the Chicago White Sox. He had 9 wins and 9 losses. He had a memorable moment in the playoffs against the Red Sox. He came into a tough situation with the bases loaded and no outs. He got three outs without letting any runs score! The White Sox went on to win the 2005 World Series, their first championship since 1917. This was Hernández's fourth World Series ring.

Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets

After the 2005 season, Hernández was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in nine games for them. In May 2006, he was traded to the New York Mets.

Hernández in 2006, showing his high leg kick

Playing in the National League allowed Hernández to do some things he hadn't done before. In July 2006, he got his first two RBIs (runs batted in) of his career. He even stole his first base in August 2006!

After joining the Mets, Hernández had 9 wins and 7 losses. The Mets won their division. However, he injured his calf before the playoffs and could not play. He signed with the Mets again for 2007. Injuries limited him to 24 games that year, but he still had a good record of 9 wins and 5 losses. He had foot surgery after the 2007 season. He tried to come back in 2008 but had another toe injury that ended his season.

Later Career and Retirement

In 2009, Hernández signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. He played for their Triple-A team but was released because the Rangers felt he wasn't ready for the major leagues. In 2010, he signed another minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. He pitched well in the minor leagues but was not called up to the major league team.

Orlando Hernández officially retired from Major League Baseball on August 18, 2011.

About His Birth Year

When Orlando Hernández first signed with the Yankees in 1998, he said he was born in 1969. However, a document from his divorce in Cuba showed he was born in 1965. So, there is a difference in the year reported for his birth. Some official baseball websites still list 1969, while others like ESPN and Baseball-Reference.com list 1965.

Other Achievements

• Two-time Cuban National Series Champion (1992 and 1996).
• He has participated in the Yankees Old-Timers' Day events, where former players come back to play a friendly game.

See also

In Spanish: Orlando Hernández para niños