"If bigger is better for most Texans, then New York is almost like heaven for Yankee closer Xavier Hernandez. Although the Yankees traded highly touted pitching prospect Domingo Jean and fan favorite Andy Stankiewicz for the right-hander in November, Hernandez should be worth his weight in gold as a talented and versatile addition to the bullpen.
A native of the Lone Star State and a Houston Astro since 1989, Hernandez's move to the Big Apple should benefit the Yankees by bolstering a bullpen that ranked 12th in the league last season. One of Hernandez's main attributes is his ability to work as both a closer and set-up man. In 1993 he was 4-5 with nine saves and a 2.61 ERA. He struck out over 100 batters and walked only 28 in 96.2 innings of work while pitching in the shadow of Doug Jones.
Hernandez, 28, attributes his success not to his fastball or his forkball, but rather to his strong mental approach, an asset for any professional athlete in New York.
'I don't think my physical stuff is outstanding,' he said after his trade was announced. 'What got me over the hump to be a quality set-up man is mental toughness. I don't have an outstanding fast ball or an outstanding slider. My location is okay, but most of the time it's digging down deep and not getting beat.'
Judging from his confidence and ability, all indications show that the Yankees have hit their mark with the X-Man."
-The New York Yankees Official 1994 Yearbook
"Outstanding setup man in Houston, Hernandez will have the opportunity to be the Yankees' bullpen closer.
He saved nine games in 1993 while finishing 29 and limiting opponents to a .212 batting average. He led Astros pitchers in appearances (72) and ERA (2.61). Hernandez has just 19 major league saves.
He was traded to the Yankees on November 27 for pitcher Domingo Jean and infielder Andy Stankiewicz. Born August 16, 1965, in Port Arthur, Texas, he was named Texas High School Player of the Year in 1983 while leading Thomas Jefferson High to the state championship. Selected by the Blue Jays in the fourth round of the 1989 draft, Hernandez was grabbed the Astros in the 1989 Rule 5 draft.
He did not allow a run in his final 10 relief appearances in 1990, but was on the disabled list in 1991 with right-shoulder tendinitis. In 1992, Hernandez had a five-game winning streak, the longest by an Astro in three years, and in 1993 had the seventh most appearances in the National League."
-Tony DeMarco, Fort Worth Star Telegram and Tom Pedulla, Gannett Newspapers, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1994 Edition
"In 1993 Hernandez ranked seventh in the National League with 72 games pitched. Opposing batters hit just .212 against him, including .220 by right-handed batters and .204 by left-handed batters. Hernandez established career highs in strikeouts (101) and saves (9). He did not allow a home run to a right-batted batter all season (186.0 IP).
Recording strikeouts in 52 of 72 appearances, he struck out at least one batter in 11 consecutive games from April 7-May 10. Xavier did not allow a run in 11 of 14 games to start the season, posting a 1.42 ERA through May 11. He compiled a 1.79 ERA (55.1 IP, 11 ER, 39 H, 61 K) through June 19.
Xavier had a season high five strikeouts on August 7 against Pittsburgh and again on August 9 at San Diego. He allowed six home runs in 96.2 innings pitched on the season but allowed just one homer in his final 26.1 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .197 against him after the All-Star break.
He was acquired by the Yankees from the Houston Astros on November 27 in exchange for infielder Andy Stankiewicz and pitcher Domingo Jean. He signed a contract for the 1994 season.
In 1992 Hernandez was ranked among the National League leaders with 77 games pitched (tied for 3rd), 9 relief wins (tied for 3rd) and a 2.11 ERA in relief (6th). He had pitched in just 73 games in his previous three seasons.
From April 9-June 13 (25 appearances) Xavier won five straight, the longest streak by an Astro since Danny Darwin won nine straight from June 10-August 26, 1989. He did not allow a run in his first eight games, allowed 13 runs in his next 17 appearances, then allowed just 13 runs in his last 52 games and posted a 1.55 ERA in his last 52 games (75.1 IP).
In 1991, he made 26 relief appearances and six starts for the Astros. Xavier lost four straight starts from May 18-June 2, dropping his record to 0-6, yet recorded a career high seven strikeouts on May 23 against Los Angeles and on June 2 at San Diego. He was on the disabled list from June 3-26 with right shoulder tendinitis. He appeared in one game following the stint on the DL, July 4 at San Francisco, then was optioned to AAA Tucson on July 10.
Xavier was recalled on August 23 and finished the season in the bullpen, going 2-0, 1.10 with two saves in his first 13 games after his recall. He earned his first major league save on September 17 at San Diego.
Selected from the Toronto Blue Jays by Houston in December 1989 in the first round of the Rule 5 draft, 1990 was Xavier's first full season in the majors. He did not allow a run in the first five games in which he pitched (5.1 IP) before allowing eight runs in 1.2 innings at Philadelphia on May 2. Including that appearance, Hernandez allowed 14 runs in a four-game stretch from May 2-16.
He tied a club record by hitting three batters (Glenn Braggs, Barry Larkin, Todd Benzinger) on June 17 at Cincinnati. He was ejected along with manager Art Howe by home plate umpire Gerry Davis after hitting the third batter.
Xavier did not allow a run in his final 10 appearances (15.0 IP). He earned his first major league victory on September 15 at San Francisco. He suffered his first major league loss in his first major league start on October 2, a 3-2 defeat at Cincinnati (5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER).
Beginning the 1989 season at AAA Syracuse of the International League, Hernandez was recalled to Toronto on June 2. He made his major league debut in relief on June 4 at Boston, receiving no decision while pitching 6.2 innings in a 13-11 win in which the Blue Jays overcame a 10-0 deficit. He received his first major league victory (2.1 IP, 3 H) in a 4-2 Toronto win on June 22 at Oakland. On July 19 he was optioned to Syracuse where he finished the season.
Xavier had his best minor league season in 1988 at Class A Myrtle Beach. He went 13-6 with a 2.55 ERA along with two complete games and two shutouts in 22 starts and one relief appearance. He also went 2-4, 2.90 with two complete games in 11 starts for AA Knoxville.
He graduated in 1983 from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas. As a senior he was 19-1, was Texas High School Player of the Year that season, and a member of the Class 5A state championship team.
Xavier played baseball at the University of Southwestern Louisiana and defeated the No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns. He was signed by Toronto Blue Jays scout Jim Hughes. Xavier lists Jeff Blauser and Robby Thompson as the toughest batters to face."
-1994 New York Yankees Information Guide
Francis Xavier Hernandez (Xavier) (P) #31
Born August 16, 1965, in Port Arthur, Texas, resides in Missouri City, Texas. Height: 6-2, weight: 195. Bats left, throws right.
Married, Deborah, and father of Danielle Marie (4) and Michael Xavier (1).
Attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
Major league service: 4 years, 15 days.
-1994 New York Yankees Information Guide
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