View source for Orlando Hernández

{{short description|Cuban baseball player (born 1965)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{family name hatnote|Hernández|Pedroso|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name          = Orlando Hernández
| image         = Orlando Hernández.jpg
| image_size    = 230px
| caption       = Hernández with the New York Mets in 2007
| position      = [[Pitcher]]
| bats          = Right
| throws        = Right
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1965|10|11}}
| birth_place   = [[Villa Clara Province|Villa Clara]], [[Cuba]]
| debutleague   = MLB
| debutdate     = June 3
| debutyear     = 1998
| debutteam     = New York Yankees
| finalleague   = MLB
| finaldate     = September 30
| finalyear     = 2007
| finalteam     = New York Mets
| statleague    = MLB
| stat1label    = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
| stat1value    = 90–65
| stat2label    = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value    = 4.13
| stat3label    = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value    = 1,086
| teams         = 
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|2002}}, {{mlby|2004}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|2005}})
* [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] ({{mlby|2006}})
* [[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|2006}}–{{mlby|2007}})
| highlights    = 
* 4× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1998}}–{{wsy|2000}}, {{wsy|2005}})
* [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|ALCS MVP]] ({{alcsy|1999}})
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{CUB}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Baseball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Baseball World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1988 Baseball World Cup|1988 Rome]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1990 Baseball World Cup|1990 Edmonton]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1994 Baseball World Cup|1994 Managua]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Intercontinental Cup (baseball)|Intercontinental Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Intercontinental Cup (baseball)|1993 Italy]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Intercontinental Cup (baseball)|1995 Havana]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1995 Pan American Games|1995 Mar del Plata]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Central American and Caribbean Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1993 Central American and Caribbean Games|1993 Ponce]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Goodwill Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1990 Goodwill Games|1990 Seattle]] | [[Cuba national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}

'''Orlando Hernández Pedroso''' (born October 11, 1965), nicknamed "'''El Duque'''" ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "The Duke"), is a Cuban-born right-handed former professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]]. He pitched for the [[Industriales]] of the [[Cuban National Series]], the [[New York Yankees]], [[Chicago White Sox]], [[Arizona Diamondbacks]], and [[New York Mets]] of [[Major League Baseball]], and the [[Cuban national baseball team]] in international play.

Hernández's greatest success came as a [[starting pitcher]] for the Yankees during that team's run of [[World Series]] championships in [[1998 World Series|1998]], [[1999 World Series|1999]], and [[2000 World Series|2000]]. He also won a World Series ring in [[2005 World Series|2005]] with the Chicago White Sox. Hernández was the first player to win both an Olympic gold medal and the World Series. 

Hernández was known for his extremely high leg kick and his frequent use of the [[Eephus pitch]], as well as his success in the playoffs.

==Cuban career==
Hernández played for [[Industriales]] of [[Havana]] in the [[Cuban National Series]], helping the team win that title in [[1991-92 Cuban National Series|1992]] and [[1995-96 Cuban National Series|1996]]. He also represented Havana in Selective Series, on teams including Ciudad Habana and Habaneros. He was 126–47 with 3.05 [[Earned run average|ERA]] over his ten-year career in the National Series. His career winning percentage in National and Selective Series, .728, is the league record.<ref>{{cite web|language=es |work= Guía Digital 2005–06 |publisher=Cocobeisbol (Radiococo.cu) |title=Labor de por vida de todos los atletas participantes en las Series Nacionales y Selectivas (lanzadores) |page=467 |url= http://www.radiococo.cu/guia/Labor%20de%20por%20vida%20de%20todos%20los%20atletas%20participantes%20en%20(2).pdf |access-date= October 22, 2006 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120131064818/http://www.radiococo.cu/guia/Labor%20de%20por%20vida%20de%20todos%20los%20atletas%20participantes%20en%20(2).pdf |archive-date= January 31, 2012 }}</ref>

Hernández was also a fixture on the [[Cuba national baseball team]], and was part of the gold-winning Olympic team at Barcelona in 1992.

In September 1995, Hernández's half-brother, [[Liván Hernández]], defected from Cuba. The Cuban national team left Hernández off of their roster in the [[1996 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-04-20/sports/9604200066_1_livan-hernandez-cuban-national-team-marlins |title=Cubans Fear Livan's Brother May Defect - tribunedigital-sunsentinel |publisher=Articles.sun-sentinel.com |date=April 20, 1996 |access-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026111217/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-04-20/sports/9604200066_1_livan-hernandez-cuban-national-team-marlins |url-status=dead }}</ref> Then in July 1996, Hernández was detained by Cuban state security and interrogated about his relationship to an American [[sports agent]]. Three months later, he was banned from Cuban baseball.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jamail|first=Milton H.|title=Full Count: Inside Cuban Baseball|url=https://archive.org/details/fullcountinsidec0000jama|url-access=registration|year=2000|publisher=Southern Illinois University Press|isbn=0-8093-2310-9|location=Carbondale, Illinois|page=[https://archive.org/details/fullcountinsidec0000jama/page/88 88]}}</ref> On [[Christmas Day]] 1997, Hernández [[Defection|defected]] from Cuba, departing on a boat from the small city of [[Caibarién]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fainaru|first=Steve|author2=Ray Sánchez|editor=Aviva Chomsky, Barry Carr and Pamela Maria Smorkaloff|title=The Cuba Reader|year=2003|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|location=Durham, North Carolina|isbn=0-8223-3197-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cubareaderhistor0000unse/page/637 637–643]|chapter=Emigration in the Special Period|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/cubareaderhistor0000unse/page/637}}</ref> The [[U.S. Coast Guard]] interdicted Hernández, his companion Noris Bosch, another baseball player named [[Alberto Hernández (catcher)|Alberto Hernández]] (no relation) and five others in Bahamian waters, delivering the entire party to Bahamian authorities in [[Freeport, Bahamas|Freeport]], who confined them in a detention center for illegal immigrants pending eventual [[repatriation]] to Cuba, the usual outcome of such cases.<ref>Branigin, William. 1998. "Cuban Baseball Defector Gets 'Humanitarian Parole.' ''Washington Post'', January 1.</ref> However, after lobbying by sports agent Joe Cubas and representatives of the [[Cuban-American National Foundation]] (CANF), then-[[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Janet Reno]] eventually offered both Hernándezes and Bosch a special status known as "humanitarian parole" that would allow them to enter the U.S., based on (1) what were judged to be realistic fears of persecution should they be returned to Cuba and (2) their status as exceptionally talented athletes, a class of person that — like exceptionally talented people in other professions — can qualify for special admission to the U.S. under [[United States Department of State|State Department]] rules.<ref>Schmitt, Eric. 1998. "U.S. Used Special Authority to Admit Cuban Ballplayers." ''New York Times'', January 2.</ref> However, Hernández declined this offer, eventually accepting an offer of [[Political asylum|asylum]] in [[Costa Rica]]. If he had immediately become a U.S. resident, he would have been subject to baseball's regular draft and could only have negotiated terms with the team that picked him. As a non-U.S. resident, however, he was able to negotiate as a free agent. After two months in Costa Rica, Hernández entered the U.S. on a [[travel visa|visa]] arranged by the New York Yankees, with whom he had negotiated a four-year, $6.6 million contract.<ref>Haberman, Clyde. 1998. "Asylum Pitch: Persecution or Curveball." ''New York Times'', March 27.</ref>

==Major league career==

===New York Yankees===

====1998====
In his first year in the Major Leagues in 1998, Hernández posted a 12–4 record with a 3.13 ERA. He was part of the Yankees' [[1998 World Series]]-winning team that defeated the [[San Diego Padres]]. He finished in fourth place in [[AL Rookie of the Year]] voting.

====1999====
Hernández enjoyed his best year as a major league pitcher in 1999; he had a 17–9 record and set career highs in [[strikeout]]s (157) and [[innings pitched]] (214.1) as a Yankee. In one comical moment during a game against the [[New York Mets]] on June 5, 1999, Hernández fielded a ground ball by [[Rey Ordóñez]] and hurled his glove with the ball in it at first base to get the out. In the [[1999 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]], he was the starter in Game 1 and Game 5 against the [[Boston Red Sox]]. In fifteen combined innings over the two games, he allowed four runs (three earned) and was named ALCS MVP when the Yankees won the series in five games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 ALCS - New York Yankees over Boston Red Sox (4-1) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1999_ALCS.shtml |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In the [[1999 World Series]] against the [[Atlanta Braves]], he started Game 1 against [[Greg Maddux]] and allowed just one run on seven innings to earn the win in a series the Yankees won in a sweep.

====2000====
Hernández went 12–13 with a 4.51 ERA during the 2000 regular season. The Yankees then won their third straight [[2000 World Series|World Series]] title, defeating the New York Mets. Over his first three postseasons from 1998 to 2000, Hernández performed well, going 8–1 with a 2.23 ERA.

====2001====
Hernández went 4–7 with a 4.85 ERA in 17 games (16 starts). The Yankees played in the [[2001 World Series|World Series]] for the fourth year in a row, but were defeated by the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].

====2002====
Hernández went 8–5 with a 3.64 ERA and one save in 24 games (22 starts). With his fifth straight postseason entry, the Yankees faced the [[Anaheim Angels]] in the [[2002 ALDS]], but lost the series.

===Montreal Expos===
On January 15, 2003, Hernández was traded by the Yankees to the [[Montreal Expos]] in a three-team deal that involved the [[Chicago White Sox]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Hermoso |first=Rafael |date=January 16, 2003 |title=BASEBALL; Hernández and Colón Traded in Three-Team Deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/16/sports/baseball-hernandez-and-colon-traded-in-three-team-deal.html |access-date=October 26, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He never appeared in a game for the Expos, missing the entire season due to a rotator cuff injury in his throwing shoulder that required surgery.

===Second stint with Yankees===
[[File:Orlando Hernandez.jpg|thumb|right|Hernández pitching for the Yankees in 2004.]]
Hernández signed a one-year contract to return to the New York Yankees on March 11, 2004.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=September 17, 2004 |title=All the Yankees Are Raving About Hernández's Second Act |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/17/sports/baseball/17yanks.html?_r=0 |access-date=October 26, 2017 |work=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> He missed the start of the 2004 season while recovering from his rotator cuff surgery. He started 15 games, going 8–2 with a 3.30 ERA. The Yankees reached the postseason once again, but they lost to the eventual World Series champion [[Boston Red Sox]] in the [[2004 ALCS]].

===Chicago White Sox===
In 2005, while pitching for the Chicago White Sox, Hernández went 9–9 with a 5.12 ERA and one save in 24 appearances (22 starts). He delivered a memorable performance in the sixth inning of Game 3 of the [[American League Division Series|2005 ALDS]] against the Red Sox. Brought on in relief with the bases loaded and no outs, Hernández induced two infield pop outs before striking out [[Johnny Damon]] without surrendering a run.<ref>{{cite web |title=Orlando Hernández Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/orlando-hernandez-133340 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901014922/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=133340 |archive-date=September 1, 2010 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=MiLB.com}}</ref> The White Sox would go on to win the game, sweeping the Red Sox out of the playoffs. The White Sox reached the World Series and swept the [[Houston Astros]] to seal their first championship since 1917.
[[File:El Duque and his cigar!.jpg|thumb|left|Hernández with the White Sox in 2005]]

===Arizona Diamondbacks===
After the 2005 season, Hernández was traded—along with relief pitcher [[Luis Vizcaíno]] and highly touted prospect outfielder [[Chris Young (outfielder)|Chris Young]]—to the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] for former teammate [[Javier Vázquez (baseball)|Javier Vázquez]]. In nine starts, Hernández went 2–4 with a 6.11 ERA.

===New York Mets===
[[File:Orlando Hernández (51009200791) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|Hernández in 2006, demonstrating his distinctive leg kick]]
On May 24, 2006, he was dealt to the New York Mets in exchange for [[relief pitcher]] [[Jorge Julio]]. Hernández's debut season in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] allowed him to attain some offensive feats for the first time in his career. On July 29, 2006, Hernández drove in the first two RBIs of his career. When asked when was the last time he remembered he drove in a run, Orlando said, "In [[Cuba]]."{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} Then, on August 20, 2006, at Shea Stadium, Hernández had the first [[stolen base]] of his career.

After his trade to the Mets, Hernández went 9–7 with a 4.09 [[Earned run average|ERA]] in 20 starts as the Mets won the [[National League East]]. His pitching in September, going 2–2 with a 2.01 ERA, led to him being named the Mets' Game One starter in the [[2006 National League Division Series]]. However, while running sprints in the outfield the day before the playoffs started, Hernández tore a muscle in his calf and had to be scratched from the postseason roster.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} He was re-signed by the Mets on November 14, 2006. Injuries limited Hernández to just 24 starts during the 2007 season, but he pitched successfully when healthy, posting a 9–5 record, a 3.72 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 147 innings. Hernández underwent foot surgery following the 2007 season and was not ready to begin the 2008 season with the Mets.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} He underwent a lengthy post-surgery rehabilitation program in Florida with the intent of joining the Mets in August 2008.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} A toe injury that required season-ending surgery in late August 2008 ended Hernández's season without him throwing a pitch for the Mets.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} He became a free agent at the end of the year.

===Texas Rangers organization===

On June 11, 2009, Hernández signed a minor league deal with the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. He was assigned to [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[Oklahoma RedHawks|Oklahoma]]. The Rangers informed him that they would not call him up to the major leagues because they did not believe he had the velocity or command to pitch there. Hernández was released on July 17, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 17, 2009 |title=Rangers release El Duque from Triple-A contract |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4337645 |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> At the time of his release, his record with the Triple-A RedHawks was 2–0 in eight relief appearances.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2009491927_basenotes18.html|work=The Seattle Times|title=MLB Notebook – Rangers release Orlando Hernandez|date=July 18, 2009}}</ref>

===Washington Nationals organization===
On July 2, 2010, Hernández signed a minor league deal with the [[Washington Nationals]], attempting a comeback.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zuckerman |first=Mark |date=July 2, 2010 |title='El Duque' signs minor-league deal |url=https://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/07/el-duque-signs-minor-deal.html |access-date=August 31, 2010 |work=Nats Insider}}</ref> He went 2–1 with a 1.72 ERA with 21 strikeouts in {{frac|15|2|3}} innings for the Rookie League [[Gulf Coast Nationals]] and the Double-A [[Harrisburg Senators]] in the Washington Nationals organization. General Manager [[Mike Rizzo (baseball)|Mike Rizzo]] informed Hernández that he would not receive a September call-up, and Hernández left the organization.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morrow |first=Geoff |date=2010-08-30 |title=Orlando Hernandez abruptly leaves the Harrisburg Senators, Washington Nationals |url=https://www.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/08/orlando_hernandez_abruptly_lea.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=PennLive.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Zuckerman |first=Mark |date=February 27, 2004 |title="El Duque" walks away [updated] |url=https://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/08/el-duque-walks-away.html |access-date=August 31, 2010 |work=Nats Insider}}</ref>

===Retirement===
Hernández officially retired from Major League Baseball on August 18, 2011.<ref name="k940">{{cite web | last=Tester | first=Hank | title=El Duque Retires in Miami | website=NBC 6 South Florida | date=2011-08-18 | url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/sports/el-duque-retires-in-miami/1881499/ | access-date=2025-02-02}}</ref> He broadcast the [[2017 World Series]] for [[ESPN Deportes Radio]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Skarka |first=Michael |date=October 23, 2017 |title=ESPN to Provide Comprehensive Coverage of the 113th World Series |url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2017/10/espn-provide-comprehensive-coverage-113th-world-series/ |access-date=October 26, 2017 |website=ESPN MediaZone}}</ref>

==Disputed birth year==
When Hernández signed with the Yankees in 1998, he claimed to have been born in 1969. In 1999, ''[[The Smoking Gun]]'' published his divorce decree from Cuba;<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-10-11 |title=Yankee Star's Numbers Game |url=https://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/sports/yankee-stars-numbers-game |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=The Smoking Gun |language=en}}</ref> the document, which had surfaced in connection with a child support case brought by his ex-wife, revealed him to have been born in 1965.  The official site of Major League Baseball still gives his year of birth as 1969, while his pages on [[ESPN]] and [[Baseball Reference|Baseball-Reference.com]] list it as 1965.

==Other career highlights==
Hernández is a two-time Cuban National Series Champion (1992 and 1996).

In June 2013, Hernández participated in the 67th annual Yankees [[Old-Timers' Day]]. It was his first appearance during Old-Timers' Day. He returned in 2014.

==See also==
{{Portal|Cuba|Baseball|Biography}}
{{div col}}
* [[List of baseball players who defected from Cuba]]
* [[List of baseball players who are Olympic gold medalists and World Series champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players from Cuba]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in baseball]]
* [[List of World Series starting pitchers]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats |mlb=133340 |espn=3858 |br=h/hernaor01 |fangraphs=823 |retro=H/Pherno001 |brm=hernan003orl}}

{{1998 New York Yankees}}
{{1999 New York Yankees}}
{{2000 New York Yankees}}
{{2005 Chicago White Sox}}
{{ALCS MVP}}
{{New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Cuba baseball roster 1992 Summer Olympics}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hernandez, Orlando}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American League Championship Series MVPs]]
[[Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players]]
[[Category:Banned Cuban baseball players]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Binghamton Mets players]]
[[Category:Bravos de Margarita players]]
[[Category:Brevard County Manatees players]]
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for Cuba]]
[[Category:Charlotte Knights players]]
[[Category:Chicago White Sox players]]
[[Category:Columbus Clippers players]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games]]
[[Category:Defecting Cuban baseball players]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Mets players]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Nationals players]]
[[Category:Harrisburg Senators players]]
[[Category:Industriales de La Habana players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Cuba]]
[[Category:20th-century Cuban sportsmen]]
[[Category:Cuban expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:New York Mets players]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:Oklahoma City RedHawks players]]
[[Category:Olympic baseball players for Cuba]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Cuba]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Cuba]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Pan American Games baseball players for Cuba]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Villa Clara Province]]
[[Category:St. Lucie Mets players]]
[[Category:Staten Island Yankees players]]
[[Category:Tampa Yankees players]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1990 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Cuban expatriate baseball players in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Age controversies in sports]]