Former Cajuns Who Played MLB – Xavier Hernandez
How many former Louisiana (formerly both Southwestern Louisiana Institute and University of Southwestern Louisiana) Ragin' Cajun baseball players went on to play Major League Baseball?
The answer is 13.
Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to look back at the respective professional careers all every one of them.
Yesterday, we looked back at Jose Alvarez.
Today, we feature Xavier Hernandez.
A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Hernandez became the fourth former UL/USL player to reach the Major League Baseball level.
A three-year letterman for the Ragin’ Cajun baseball team from 1984-86, Hernandez, a right-handed pitcher, was named All-Louisiana in 1985.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Hernandez led the Cajuns in wins in both 1985 and 1986, with 10 and nine, respectively, and ranks second and third, respectively, on the career shutout and complete game list.
A fourth- round selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1986 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Hernandez spent parts of four seasons in the minor leagues, before making his Major League debut on June 4, 1989, against the Boston Red Sox.
After 7 games with the Blue Jays in 1989, Hernandez was taken by the Houston Astros 1989 rule 5 draft.
With the Astros, Hernandez solidified himself as a big league pitcher. He pitched four seasons in Houston, putting together the best season of his career in 1992, going 9-1 with 7 saves and a 2.11 ERA in 1992.
After leaving Houston, Hernandez pitched for the Yankees (1994), Reds (1995-1996), and the Rangers (1997-1998), along with a brief return to the Astros for 5 games in 1996.
In parts of ten major league seasons, Hernandez posted a career 40-35 record, to go along with 35 saves and a 3.90 ERA.
Hernandez was inducted into the UL Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.
Now 52-years old, Hernandez is currently an assistant coach for Houston Baptist.