Carlos Hernández (pitcher)

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Carlos Enrique Hernández [ˌeɾˈnandez] (born April 22, 1980 in Guacara, Carabobo State, Venezuela) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played for the Houston Astros (2001-02, 2004). He is a switch hitter and throws left-handed.

The 25-year-old Hernández has a low 90s fastball, a very good curveball, a changeup, and he can throw a decent slider as well. One of the top prospects in the Astros system, Hernández made the jump from Double-A in 2001. That season, he suffered a partial tear of his left rotator cuff diving back to second base. Before the injury, he was 1-0 with a 1.02 ERA, allowing only 11 hits in 17.6 innings.

Despite pitching in pain, Hernández again showed promise in 2002, but his season was hampered by an ongoing injury with his left shoulder. He finished 7-5 with a 4.38 ERA in 21 starts, but twice was disabled. He missed the 2003 season following surgery.

In 2004, Hernández started his rehabilitation with the New Orleans Zephyrs, an AAA affiliate team of the Astros, and finished with the big club with a 1-3 mark and a 6.43 ERA in nine starts.

In a three-year career, Hernández has posted a 9-8 record with 136 strikeouts and a 4.54 ERA in 172.2 innings.

[edit] See also

• List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball

[edit] External links

• Baseball Reference (statistics and analysis)
• ESPN (profile and daily updates)