Felix Hernandez is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Seattle Mariners for 15 seasons. He was born on April 8, 1986, in Valencia, Venezuela. Hernandez began his baseball career at a young age, playing for the Seattle Mariners' minor league team at the age of 17. He quickly rose through the ranks and made his major league debut in 2005 at the age of 19.
Hernandez quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the league, earning the nickname "King Felix" for his dominant performances on the mound. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2010, becoming the first pitcher in Mariners history to win the award. Hernandez was also named to six All-Star teams and won two ERA titles during his career.
Throughout his career, Hernandez was known for his impressive fastball and devastating curveball. He was also known for his durability, regularly pitching over 200 innings per season. Hernandez was a workhorse for the Mariners, often pitching deep into games and giving his team a chance to win.
Despite his individual success, Hernandez was never able to lead the Mariners to the playoffs. The team struggled to build a competitive roster around him, and Hernandez was often left to carry the team on his own. Despite this, he remained loyal to the Mariners throughout his career, signing multiple long-term contracts to stay with the team.
Injuries began to take a toll on Hernandez in the later years of his career. He missed significant time in 2017 and 2018 due to shoulder and back injuries, and his performance on the mound began to decline. Hernandez was eventually moved to the bullpen in 2019, marking the end of his tenure as a starting pitcher for the Mariners.
Hernandez announced his retirement from baseball in January 2021, ending a 15-year career that saw him become one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. He finished his career with a record of 169-136, a 3.42 ERA, and 2,524 strikeouts. Hernandez will be remembered as one of the greatest players in Mariners history and one of the best pitchers of his era.
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