Meet Your Hall of Famers: Renato Hernandez

 

Bio:   Renato was born in Maiquetia, VE (Pop. 88,000, in North Central Venezuela, on the Caribbean Sea).  Renato broke on to the baseball scene when he pitched for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.  In that tournament he struck out 18 batters in just 8 innings of work.  He then signed with Austin in Season 42.

International Signing: Signed for $7 million in Season 42 (8^th most that year) by Austin (rwgeorge7)

Scout Lucas Fick- “Renato displayed great velocity with tremendous control in the WBC.  He reminds you of Mariano Rivera being so effective with just 2 fastballs.  His pinpoint control made him deadly to right handers.”

 Career Earnings: $101,839,000

Career: Renato Hernandez was an international free agent signed by Austin (rwgeorge7) in Season 42. He broke into the Majors in season 44 and played 17 seasons.  He also played six seasons for Tampa/Memphis before heading to FA.  In FA he signed with Seattle and played 10 for the Super Troopers. He then finished his career playing one season in Huntington.  In his first pro season he had elbow surgery that almost cost him his career.  He rehabbed and when on to be a 14-time All-Star, won 5 Fireman of the Year Awards (48, 52, 54, 55, 56), and won 3 World Series Ring (52, 53, 55).  Renato was so consistent for his career; it is tough to pick out his best year.  But I feel his best year was Season 53 in Seattle. In that year he threw 91 INN with a WHIP of .91.  He won 10 Games and had 32 SV, with 93 K’s and OAV .191 and 2.37 ERA.  Over his career he had 645 SV, and 53 Wins.  He also accumulated 1081 K’s over 1142 INN with a .207 OAV, 1.06 WHIP, and 2.35 ERA. He holds the Season and Career Record in Saves for Seattle with 53 in season 52 and 435 overall.

Speech Highlight- After being compared to Mariano Rivera..he copied some of his speech “But my abilities were not good enough for me to be a soccer player, so the Lord was pushing me to baseball.  I love baseball but I didn’t think baseball would be something I would use as a career.”