Xavier Hernandez was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for several teams during his career. He was born on August 16, 1965, in Port Arthur, Texas, and attended West Brook High School in Beaumont, Texas. Hernandez was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 1986 Major League Baseball draft.
Hernandez made his Major League debut on September 2, 1989, with the Houston Astros. He played for the Astros until 1993, during which he was a part of the team that won the National League West division in 1989. Hernandez was known for his fastball, which he threw at speeds of up to 95 miles per hour.
In 1994, Hernandez was traded to the New York Yankees, where he played for one season. He then played for the Kansas City Royals in 1995 before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 1996. Hernandez played for the Rangers until 1998, after which he became a free agent.
Throughout his career, Hernandez had a record of 38 wins and 47 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.39. He recorded 28 saves and struck out 542 batters in 747 innings pitched. Hernandez was known for his durability and consistency, as he appeared in at least 50 games in six of his ten seasons in the Major Leagues.
After his playing career, Hernandez became a coach and instructor. He worked as a pitching coach for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in 2012 and 2013. Hernandez also worked as a pitching instructor for the Houston Astros in 2014 and 2015.
In 2016, Hernandez was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. The museum recognizes the contributions of Hispanic players, coaches, and executives to the game of baseball.
Overall, Xavier Hernandez had a successful career as a relief pitcher in the Major Leagues. He played for several teams and was known for his fastball and consistency. After his playing career, Hernandez continued to contribute to the game as a coach and instructor.
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