“Frustrating” would be an understatement if you were describing Félix Hernández‘s 2019 season. Hernández, 33, had spent the entirety of his 15-year career with the Seattle Mariners before being signed by the Atlanta Braves this offseason. He was beloved by everyone in Seattle, earning him the nickname “King Félix.” He even had his own personal cheering section in Safeco Field called “King’s Court.” In his time with the Mariners, he compiled 169 wins in 2,729.2 innings and was named an All-Star six times, as well as being the MLB wins leader in 2009 and the AL ERA leader in 2010 and 2014. He also won the Cy Young Award in 2010 and pitched a perfect game in 2012.
With all of his success and popularity in Seattle, it seemed like he would always be a fixture in the Emerald City. But after an injury-plagued campaign last season, Hernández became a free agent for the first time in his career. That’s when Atlanta swooped in and agreed to terms with the veteran starter on a one-year, $1 million deal. Atlanta believed he had something left in the tank, and, so far, Hernández is showing signs that he indeed does have a little something left. As a result, he is looking to win a spot in the Braves rotation and join a contending ball club as he tries to get that much-elusive World Series ring.
Félix Hernández Looking to Win a Spot in the Atlanta Braves Rotation
Impressive Debut
With only 15 starts and pitching a career-low 71.2 innings in 2019, Hernández wasn’t going to throw in the towel. After making his debut for the Braves in spring training, it appears that he made the right choice. Hernández recorded a pair of strikeouts in two scoreless innings while throwing 30 pitches. Albeit he pitched just two innings and was facing the lowly Baltimore Orioles, he had control of the fastball and his breaking pitches looked crisp. After all, Hernández is solely focusing on building up his stamina and getting a feel for his arsenal in the early days of spring training.
Félix Hernández first strikeout in a @Braves uniform. ? pic.twitter.com/hNpZ1fzvNM Felix Hernandez
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) February 22, 2020
After the outing, Hernández indicated that he feels the best he’s felt in a couple of years and that he believes he can win a spot in the Atlanta rotation.
“Physically, I feel 100 percent healthy,” Hernández said. “If I keep doing what I did today, I’m going to be in that (rotation) spot.”
“Good results,” Hernández went on to say. “I was throwing a lot of strikes. That’s the main thing. I feel really good. I’m really excited. I’m looking forward to another [start].”
Even Braves manager Brian Snitker thought Hernández’s first start was impressive.
“It was good,” Snitker said. “The tempo, the aggressiveness, using his assortment, it was pretty good. Pretty good to watch. I liked the upbeat aggressiveness he was pitching with. That was a really good start for him, first time out and all.”
Rotation Depth Chart
The Braves are not short on arms. Atlanta’s rotation features Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Mike Foltynewicz, and Cole Hamels. And don’t forget about Sean Newcomb, Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint, and Bryse Wilson — all of whom could make an impact on the rotation. With so much depth, some wondered if there would be a spot for Hernández to prove his worth.
However, Hamels suffered a left-shoulder injury shortly after reporting for spring training. While he is sidelined, the fourth and fifth spots remain up for grabs. Not to mention the fact that Wright, Toussaint, and Wilson have combined for only 123.1 innings — more than half by Toussaint. Hernández has a chance to fill the void left by Hamels and add a much-needed veteran arm. If Hernández pans out, the Braves have yet another weapon to pair up with an already capable rotation.
Bounce-Back Year?
Obviously, it’s too early and too small of a sample size to tell if Hernández can keep this up and return to All-Star form. But his first outing was a good sign and a step in the right direction. He’ll look to keep this up throughout the spring, win a starting spot, and carry that momentum into the regular season. If he can return to his past success, the Braves would be ecstatic and Hernández would undoubtedly have a case for Comeback Player of the Year. But all of this hinges on him staying healthy and having a productive spring.
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