Jose Hernandez

JOSE HERNANDEZ - MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Shortstop
Age: 33 (July 14, 1969)
Height: 6-1 Weight: 188
Throws: Right Bats: Right


The career of Jose Hernandez has been a long, rocky one – from a journeyman on three teams before his 103rd major-league at-bat, to a quick trade and a trip to the World Series and a nice free-agent deal, to a free-agent bust, and, finally, to an All-Star appearance as one of the top shortstops in the National League.

History

Hernandez graduated from Maestro Ladi High School in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico in 1987, where he played baseball, basketball and volleyball. He then attended Interamerica University in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Hernandez followed in the footsteps of his cousin, Luis Figueroa, who saw action with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets at the major-league level. He took the first step by signing on with the Texas Rangers out of college.

The Talent

After brief stints with the Texas Rangers in 1991 and the Cleveland Indians in 1992, Hernandez finally reached the big leagues for good as a regular with the Chicago Cubs in 1994. He appeared in only 56 games that year, but began to establish himself as a valuable utility player for the Cubs. Hernandez hit .242 with just 2 2B, 3 3B, a HR and 9 RBI in only 132 AB, while playing mostly 3B and SS.

Hernandez’s AB nearly doubled in 1995 as he played mostly 2B and SS, with some time at 3B and in LF. He started showing some pop in his bat, as he hit .245 with 11 2B, 4 3B, 13 HR and 40 RBI. Hernandez appeared in a career high 131 games in 1996, but didn’t show much improvement – he had a .242 BA with 14 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR and 41 RBI while playing almost entirely at SS.

While he played in almost as many games in 1997, Hernandez had just over half as many AB while playing all four infield positions and in LF. He bumped up his BA to .273, hit just 8 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR and 26 RBI.

Hernandez saw his first full-time role in 1998 as the Cubs went to the playoffs, mostly at SS, but he played all four IF spots and all three OF spots for the first time. In 149 games and nearly 500 AB, Hernandez had his best offensive season yet – he hit .254 with 23 2B, 7 3B, 23 HR and 75 RBI. He also struck out 140 times.

The 1999 season started off so well for Hernandez, the Cubs were ready to offer him a long term deal at mid-season. But, as the July 31 trading deadline approached, Hernandez felt the Cubs did not act quickly enough. He was seeking a three-year contract, but Chicago offered a two-year deal until shortly before the deadline, when they upped the ante to three years and $9 million. When Hernandez refused, he was traded to Atlanta along with pitcher Terry Mulholland in exchange for three minor-league pitchers.

The trade worked out all right for Hernandez as he went on to the National League Championship Series and the World Series, collecting one hit and two RBI against both the Mets and Yankees. And in the off-season, as a 30-year-old free agent, Hernandez signed a three-year, $10 million contract with Milwaukee and entered the 2000 season as the Brewers’ starting third baseman, capitalizing on his best season yet -- .266, 20 2B, 2 3B, 19 HR, 62 RBI and 11 SB (and 145 Ks).

But the 2000 season was a disaster for Hernandez. He was so despondent, so confused at the all-star break that he returned home to Puerto Rico to spend time with his horses, quietly reflecting on how things could go so wrong. Hernandez was batting .244 with 10 homers and 40 RBI at the break and was on the verge of some serious bench time in the second half. And he did.

The following is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s evaluation of Hernandez’s season:

“When the Brewers signed Hernandez last winter, they were hoping he could handle the everyday job at third base, cut down his strikeouts and provide some protection for Jeromy Burnitz in the lineup. Hernandez accomplished none of the above. Opponents quickly learned not to throw him strikes, because Hernandez often got himself out by chasing breaking pitches outside of the strike zone. For a guy with 11 homers and 49 RBI, 125 strikeouts in 446 at-bats is deplorable. His ideal role may be as a utility man, a job he filled well in Chicago. Given their heavy investment, the Brewers won't give up on Hernandez yet. If anyone offers them help at third, however, they'd be foolish not to listen. Grade: D-minus”

2001 Season

The following season was a whole different animal. In contrast to a year before, when he played his way out of the Brewers' starting lineup with a miserable first half, Hernandez re-established himself as an everyday player. He finished the first half with 17 HR and 45 RBI, by far the best run-production figures among National League shortstops.

That’s right. Shortstop. After failing miserably as a third baseman, he unexpectedly became Milwaukee’s shortstop when Mark Loretta went down with an injury and Hernandez began to justify that contract of his.

His 2001 evaluation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had a slightly different tone:

"After a disastrous 2000 season, Hernandez bulked up in the weight room and won the shortstop job when Mark Loretta was injured. Though his 25 homers and 78 RBI were what the Brewers were looking for when they signed him last year, he hit just .249 and had to sit out the last few games to avoid setting the all-time record for strikeouts in a season. (He had 185, missing by four) A $3 million bust last year, he will look like a bargain if he plays good defense and cuts down his strikeouts next season. Grade: B-minus"

2002 Outlook

Had Hernandez struck out 145 times instead of 185 in 2001, his season would have been viewed as a resounding success. The strikeouts, however, tended to overshadow his power numbers and - more importantly - his defense. After a combined 414 chances in 2000 at SS and 3B resulted in 18 errors, in 2001, Hernandez committed 18 errors in 651 chances – all at short.

So, going into 2002, Hernandez was still considered your typical Brewer -- great power, no patience. Hernandez is a free swinger, but he makes things happen when he makes contact. His average is weak, he doesn't steal bases and his strikeouts will kill you in some leagues. And it would be nice if he were hitting higher than No. 7, where his runs and RBIs suffer. So, while it was thought that what he did the year previous was great, he needed to do even better.

The Results

And he has.

Two-thirds of the way through the season, Hernandez is on his way to career highs in runs, HR, RBI and BA. On this date (July 30th), Hernandez has had 498 chances and has committed only 12 errors (projected to 15 errors in the same number of chances as 2001).

But, yes, he’s on a record pace for strikeouts. But he’s done everything else that was asked of him this season – he improved his run production, his batting average and his defense. AND he went to the All-Star Game! Come on! What more do you want?

The Projection

His batting average has slipped from .290 to .284 in the last month, but he should still finish above .280 and still set his career marks. Just suck it up, ignore the Ks and ride Hernandez out.

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Jeff Brown
Cubs/Rockies Correspondent