Elieser Hernández

Elieser Alexis Hernández (born May 3, 1995) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers. Hernández signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent in 2012, and made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2018.

Houston Astros
Hernández signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent on May 31, 2012. He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Astros. He spent the 2013 season with the DSL Astros as well, logging a 5–1 record and 1.26 ERA in 13 appearances. In 2014, he split the season between the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Astros and the rookie ball Greeneville Astros, accumulating a 5–1 record and 2.17 ERA in 12 games. He split the 2015 season between the Low-A Tri-City ValleyCats and the Single-A Quad Cities River Bandits, posting a 3–4 record and 3.12 ERA with 76 strikeouts in $66 1/3$ innings of work. In 2016, Hernández split the year between the High-A Lancaster JetHawks and Quad Cities, recording a 6–8 record and 4.51 ERA with 107 strikeouts in $107 2/3$ innings pitched. He split the 2017 season between the High-A Buies Creek Astros and the GCL Astros, pitching to a 5–5 record and 3.68 ERA in 18 appearances between the two teams. Following the completion of the minor league season, he played for the Águilas del Zulia of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

Miami Marlins
On December 14, 2017, Hernández was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 2017 Rule 5 draft. He began the 2018 season on the disabled list with a tooth infection and made five rehab appearances Hernández made his major league debut by pitching two scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves on May 10. He recorded his first major league strikeout in his next game, on May 13 against Ozzie Albies of the Braves. He picked up his first major league win on July 11 against the Milwaukee Brewers and finished his rookie season going 2–7 with a 5.21 ERA in $65 2/3$ major league innings. Hernández split the 2019 season between Miami and the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes, recording a 3–5 record and 5.03 ERA in 21 games for the Marlins and was 3–1 with a 1.13 ERA in nine games for the Baby Cakes.

In 2020, Hernández earned the fifth starter spot in the Marlins rotation at the start of the pandemic shortened season and pitched in six contests, registering a 3.16 ERA with 34 strikeouts in $25 2/3$ innings pitched He suffered a lat injury on September 1 and spent the rest of the season on the injured list.

Hernández began the 2021 season in the rotation before suffering a biceps injury. He was reinstated from the injured list on June 3 only to suffer a “severe” right quad strain in his first game back, returning him to the injured list. Hernández was again activated on August 15 and pitched 5$1⁄3$ innings of one-run ball, earning a no-decision. For the season, he made 11 starts with a 1–3 record and 4.18 ERA. In the 2022 season, he appeared in 20 games (10 starts) and was 3–6 with a 6.35 ERA and he was designated for assignment on November 15, 2022, and removed from the roster.

New York Mets
On November 18, 2022, the Marlins traded Hernández and Jeff Brigham to the New York Mets for Franklin Sanchez and a player to be named later (Jake Mangum) or cash considerations. He was initially optioned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets in 2023, but suffered a right shoulder strain and was placed on the injured list to begin the year. On July 3, Hernández was activated from the injured list and optioned to Triple–A. On July 24, he was recalled to the active roster. However, he did not appear for the Mets before he was placed on the injured list with a right pectoral strain the next day where he remained for the rest of the season. On November 2, Hernández was outrighted to the minors, but rejected the assignment and chose to become a free agent.

Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 12, 2024, Hernández signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He began the season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club before having his contract purchased on May 15. In five appearances for the Dodgers, Hernández struggled to an 8.38 ERA with six strikeouts across $9 2⁄3$ innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by the team on May 31, and outrighted back to Oklahoma City on June 6. However, Hernández rejected the assignment and became a free agent.

Milwaukee Brewers
On June 8, 2024, Hernández signed a one–year, major league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. In four appearances for Milwaukee, he posted a 3.00 ERA with two strikeouts across six innings pitched. On June 19, Hernández was designated for assignment by Milwaukee. He elected free agency on June 25.