Age really is just a number. Just ask the Philadelphia Eagles, who made the unusual move of signing 41-year-old Josh McCown to their practice squad last week. While not as extreme as that maneuver, MLB’s Washington Nationals made a similarly bold choice Thursday, promoting soon-to-be 33-year-old (his birthday is next month) Yadiel Hernandez from the team’s alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He’ll the take place of hobbled DH Howie Kendrick (hamstring), who was placed on Washington’s injured list in the corresponding roster move. When the Cuban-born outfielder inevitably makes his big-league debut, he’ll be one of the oldest rookies in recent memory.
Hernandez, who joined Washington as an international free agent in 2016, dominated at the minor-league level last year, slugging 33 homers—good for sixth-most in the Pacific League—for Triple-A Fresno. The 5’9,” 185-pound Hernandez owns an impressive .301/.385/.503 batting line over three minor-league seasons but could never crack the bigs with mainstays Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Adam Eaton obstructing his path to playing time in the Nationals’ outfield.
Naturally, Hernandez’s arrival in Washington has drawn comparisons to former relief arm Jim Morris, who famously debuted for the Rays at age 35. The late-blooming left-hander was the subject of the 2002 film The Rookie with Morris played by Hollywood veteran Dennis Quaid.
“To see his face today was awesome,” manager Dave Martinez (a former teammate of Morris,’ ironically enough) told Ben Nuckols of the Associated Press. “It’s a feel-good story.”
Before the COVID shutdown in March, Hernandez appeared in 18 Grapefruit League games for Washington this spring, struggling to a .143 clip with a homer, two doubles and 10 strikeouts in 42 at-bats. With 2020 already a lost season for the Nats (FiveThirtyEight.com puts their slim playoff chances at a minuscule nine percent), there’s no harm in letting Hernandez live out his dream and maybe sock a few homers while he’s at it.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM Sports
Twitter I Facebook I Instagram
