Atlanta Braves Sign Livan Hernandez

Published: 30^th Mar 12 5:09 pm

by Ryan Gaydos
Ryan Gaydos

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Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

The Atlanta Braves have made a late Spring Training acquisition by signing right-handed pitcher Livan Hernandez to a major league one-year, $750K deal, according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman.Hernandez was released by the Houston Astros earlier Friday.

Hernandez is going to be given a chance to win the fifth spot in the rotation as it seems that Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado have not been given it as of yet. Teheran is 0-1 in four games with a 9.00 ERA while Delgado has compiled a record of 1-3 with a 7.94 ERA.

Hernandez has been pitching for the past three seasons. Last season, Hernandez recorded an 8-13 record with a 4.47 ERA. He averaged 10.2 H/9 and 5.1 K/9 last season as well. Hernandez is 174-176 all-time and has compiled a 4.39 career ERA with 1928 strikeouts.

The Braves’ rotation is not off to a good start. Right-handed pitcher Tim Hudson will miss the first month of the season after undergoing back surgery. Hudson was 16-10 for the Braves in 2011. He posted a 3.22 ERA and struck out 158 batters. Hudson is going to be sorely missed at the beginning of the season.

Atlanta’s rotation is looking like this: Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy and Delgado, Teheran and Hernandez fighting for the last spot in the rotation. There is no clear cut winner for the final spot. Hernandez is 1-2 with a 5.63 ERA this Spring, which is slightly better than Delgado’s and Teheran’s numbers.

It will be interesting to see who wins the final spot in the Braves’ rotation, just a few days before the start of the season.

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