Anderson Hernández

Anderson Hernández
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 10
Second Baseman/Shortstop
Born: October 30, 1982 (1982-10-30)
Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 18, 2005 for the New York Mets
Career statistics (through 2011 season)
Batting average	.241
Home runs	4
Runs batted in	60
Teams
New York Mets (2005–2007), (2009) Washington Nationals (2008–2009) Cleveland Indians (2010) Houston Astros (2010)

Hernandez (left) before the Nationals home opener in 2009.

Anderson Hernández (born October 30, 1982) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He made his major league debut in 2005 for the New York Mets. Hernández is a 5'9" switch hitter with decent speed. He was signed as an undrafted free agent at age 18 by the Detroit Tigers in 2001. In the minor leagues, Hernández showed poor patience and high strikeouts typical of a teenager and did not rise past single-A until 2004. In his first season, he batted .264/.303/.389 with 34 stolen bases in just 216 at-bats. However, he progressed slowly. In 2002, playing in High-A ball, he showed poor hitting skills, batting just .259/.310/.339. The next season was even worse. Hernandez struggled to hit above the Mendoza line, (.229/.278/.295) and stole just 15 bases. But the next season started off well for him. After batting .295 with 11 RBI in about 100 AB, he was called up to Double-A Erie where he batted .274 with 5 home runs, 29 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. After that season, he was traded to the New York Mets for catcher Vance Wilson who had become expendable after the Mets signed Ramón Castro.

Hernández currently plays in his native country, the Dominican Republic, on Tigres del Licey. He won the Rookie of the Year in the regular season and also the MVP during the finals. He and shortstop Erick Aybar are called "los menores" (Spanish for "the kids") and are known as one of the best middle infields in the Dominican Republic.

Playing career

New York Mets

With the Mets out of playoff contention in 2005 and Hernández hitting over .300 in both Double-A and Triple-A, he was called up to the majors in mid-September but went 0-for-14 before finally getting his first hit in the last game of the season, going 1–4. Due to the knee injury of Kazuo Matsui, Hernández was the starting second baseman for the Mets to start the 2006 season, but he too was soon injured and placed on the 15-day DL. He returned later in the season and hit his first Major League home run on September 19th, 2006 against the Marlins. He is widely known to Mets fans for pinch-running for Paul LoDuca in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, representing the winning run with two out, but Carlos Beltran struck out to end the game.

In 2007, he made many appearances as a pinch-runner or a late inning defensive replacement, as he only collected three at-bats and went 1–3.

Washington Nationals

On August 20, 2008, Hernández was dealt to the Washington Nationals to complete the trade for relief pitcher Luis Ayala. He was the starter at second for the Nationals.

Return to the Mets

Hernandez was traded back to the Mets on August 6, 2009, for minor league infielder Greg Veloz.

Cleveland Indians

On March 17, 2010, Hernández was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians. He was assigned to Triple-A Columbus on April 8. On June 8, 2010, the Indians purchased Hernández's contract and placed him on the active roster. Hernández had the opportunity to compete for the starting second baseman position, but lost to Jayson Nix; he was subsequently used in a utility infielder role. On July 18, 2010, Hernández was designated for assignment to make room on the active roster for pitcher Jeanmar Gómez.

Houston Astros

Hernández was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros on July 21. He was added to the 25-man roster on July 22.

Resigned to minor league contract for 2011 season after being outrighted and elected free agency.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Hernandez signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 21, 2011. He also received an invitation to spring training. He will earn salary of $500,000 if he makes Major League roster

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)