For Hernández, difficult journey to majors was worth it

Baseball clubs sign 29-year-old Cuban defectors with the intention of playing them in the major leagues as soon as possible. The Nationals, though, knew they weren't getting a sure thing when they signed Yadiel Hernández four years ago for the relatively benign sum of $200,000.

The Nats liked the outfielder's left-handed swing and hoped he might make it someday. But they weren't touting him to be an immediate contributor the way other Cuban players who received millions of dollars were touted by the clubs that signed them.

It took four years and a most unusual 2020 season, but Hernández did finally make it to Nationals Park. Called up from the team's alternate training site in Fredericksburg on Thursday afternoon, he made his major league debut as a pinch-runner in the bottom of the ninth of the Nats' 7-6 loss to the Braves.

"I was obviously very happy, excited, to be out there," Hernández said via interpreter Octavio Martinez during a Zoom session with reporters today. "At some point, I felt like I belonged. It felt natural. Because I've been with the team since spring training. So a part of me felt like this is just another game. But the other side, the overwhelming excitement and happiness to be out there, really built up in that moment. It was a feeling I don't necessarily know how to describe too much. But I was very excited."

Hernández's path to the majors certainly wasn't conventional. Regarded as a good, but not great player in Cuba, he decided to take an immense personal risk when he defected while playing for his country's national team in a 2015 tournament in North Carolina. One year later, the Nationals signed him and he began the long journey to the big leagues, which included 370 games over three seasons in Double-A and Triple-A.

Despite hitting 33 homers with a 1.009 OPS last season at Fresno and earning organizational player of the year honors, Hernández didn't get a September call-up. He remained off the 40-man roster all of this season until his contract was purchased Thursday.

"It's definitely not an easy journey. It's very, very, very difficult," he said. "A lot of hard work. I look back at all my years in the minor leagues, and I kept trying to tell myself to keep working hard, keep trying to reach that goal. I thank God the opportunity. I see all the hard work has paid off. All I can say is, it was very hard, but very gratifying to be here."

Hernández found out about his promotion when Fresno manager Randy Knorr, who is running the Fredericksburg camp this summer, gathered the entire group together to make the announcement. He then reported to Nationals Park, where manager Davey Martinez welcomed him and told him he would get a chance to contribute to this team.

Hernández immediately called his family to let them know. His wife and daughter have been with him, but his parents and some of his siblings remain in Cuba and couldn't believe what he was telling them.

"At first, they were in shock," he said. "I don't think they realized the impact of the moment, or what was happening. But as the conversation prolonged and they realized what was actually taking place, they were very excited for me. And it was a very special moment for me."

At 32 years, 337 days, Hernández became the oldest player to make his major league debut for the Nationals, slightly older than Rick Short was when he debuted in 2005 at 32 years, 186 days, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Martinez says he hopes to give Hernández a start in left field sometime this weekend, with Juan Soto still limited to DH duties while dealing with a sore elbow.

For Hernández, that moment will be emotional. His journey may have taken longer than most, but he will have arrived at the same destination nonetheless.

He also insists this is only the first of many steps he intends to take before his journey is complete.

"It's a huge sacrifice to get here," he said. "But I feel like it's not just about getting here. It's about staying here and helping the team win any way that I can."