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Merkle923 · 11-18-2015, 07:23 PM

This always struck me as one of the stranger stories of the expansion era. In September 1979, the Blue Jays promoted a 20-year old shortstop from their Class-A farm team in the Carolina League. Pedro Hernandez got three pinch-running opportunities, and then went back to the minors in 1980.

Having shown no power, very little speed, not much in the field, and only once exceeding an OPS of .700 in the minors, Hernandez was summoned back to Toronto in July, 1982. This time he got nine plate appearances and a couple of innings each at 3B and LF. He went 0-for-9 and started exactly one game (at DH), and was first sent back to the minors, then sold into the Yankees' farm system in late August. He played just a few games for them at Columbus, then is next heard from two years later in the Mexican League, and the year after at two stops in the Astros' system - and done at age 26.

Haven't seen Hernandez in color and in a Jays' uniform before. These images are part of a large collection I bought recently and are both from a Toronto exhibition game at their then-AAA farm, Syracuse, in 1982.

11-18-2015, 07:23 PM	#26583
Merkle923 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,192	Pedro Hernandez 1979 This always struck me as one of the stranger stories of the expansion era. In September 1979, the Blue Jays promoted a 20-year old shortstop from their Class-A farm team in the Carolina League. Pedro Hernandez got three pinch-running opportunities, and then went back to the minors in 1980. Having shown no power, very little speed, not much in the field, and only once exceeding an OPS of .700 in the minors, Hernandez was summoned back to Toronto in July, 1982. This time he got nine plate appearances and a couple of innings each at 3B and LF. He went 0-for-9 and started exactly one game (at DH), and was first sent back to the minors, then sold into the Yankees' farm system in late August. He played just a few games for them at Columbus, then is next heard from two years later in the Mexican League, and the year after at two stops in the Astros' system - and done at age 26. Haven't seen Hernandez in color and in a Jays' uniform before. These images are part of a large collection I bought recently and are both from a Toronto exhibition game at their then-AAA farm, Syracuse, in 1982. Last edited by Merkle923; 08-02-2017 at 09:14 PM.