José Hernández (baseball player)

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**José Hernández**
Major League Baseball debut
Free Agent — No. 8
Third Baseman
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
August 9, 1991 for the Texas Rangers
Selected MLB statistics (through 2005)
Home runs	165
RBI	584
Batting average	.254

José Antonio Hernández Figueroa (born June 14, 1969 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball infielder, with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Previously, Hernández played with the Texas Rangers (1991), Cleveland Indians (1992), Chicago Cubs (1994-1999), Atlanta Braves (1999), Milwaukee Brewers (2000-2003), Chicago Cubs (2003), Pittsburgh Pirates (2003), Los Angeles Dodgers (2004), and Cleveland Indians (2005). Before the 2006 season, he signed a minor league contract with the Pirates that included an invitation to spring training, and an opportunity to compete for a spot on the team. Hernandez was traded to the Phillies on August 22, 2006. He bats and throws right-handed.

In a 13-season career, Hernández has compiled a .253 batting average with 159 home runs and 553 RBI in 1418 games.

Primarily a shortstop, Hernández has played every position, except pitcher and catcher. His most productive season came in 2001 with Milwaukee, when he posted career highs in home runs (25), RBI (78), hits (151), doubles (26) and games (152). Despite his .249 average, he posted a .356 on base percentage.

In 2002 Hernandez struck out 188 times, one shy of the MLB record. Former Brewers manager Jerry Royster kept Hernandez out of the lineup in four of the last five games of the season, so he would not break the dubious record. Brewers fans also began cheering for Hernandez to break the record. He led the majors in highest strikeout percentage (35.8%).[1]

In 2002, Hernández hit 24 home runs with 73 RBI and a career high .288 average, and he was selected for the All-Star Game. He spent the entire 2004 season with the Dodgers in a utility role, hitting .289 (61-211) with 12 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs and 29 RBI in 95 games for the National League West champions. Hernández recorded 26 extra base hits and a .540 slugging percentage in just 211 at bats. Only Anaheim's Troy Glaus (.207 AB, 18 HR) hit more home runs in the majors in 2004 among players with 215 or fewer at bats.

Hernández also set a Puerto Rico Winter League record with 20 home runs for Mayaguez during the 1997-1998 winter ball campaign.