Darwinzon David Hernández Afanador (born December 17, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. They compete in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a member of the Pacific League. Founded on February 22, 1938, as the Nankai Club, being the first Kansai t ...

Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ...

(NPB). He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

. Listed at and , he bats and throws left-handed.

Career

Boston Red Sox

Hernández signed with the

as an international free agent in August 2013. He made his professional debut in 2014 with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox, appearing in 14 games while compiling a record of 1–1 with a 2.89 ERA. In 2015, he again played for the DSL Red Sox, compiling a 6–1 record with 1.10 ERA in 16 appearances. Playing for the

Low-A Single-A, formerly known as Class A and sometimes as Low-A, is the fourth-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States, below Triple-A, Double-A, and High-A. There are 30 teams classified at the Single-A level, one for ...

Lowell Spinners The Lowell Spinners were a baseball team based in Lowell, Massachusetts. From 1996 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. With Major Leagu ...

in 2016, he had a 3–5 record in 14 games, with a 4.10 ERA. In 2017, Hernández played for the

Single-A Single-A, formerly known as Class A and sometimes as Low-A, is the fourth-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States, below Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A, Double-A (baseball), Double-A, and High-A. There are 30 teams cl ...

Greenville Drive The Greenville Drive are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greenville, South Carolina. They are the High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and are a member of the South Atlantic League. They play their home games at Fluor Field at the West E ...

, appearing in 23 games while compiling a 4–5 record with a 4.01 ERA. In 2018, Hernández pitched for the

High-A High-A, officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing, is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A and D ...

Salem Red Sox The Salem Red Sox are a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB), based in Salem, Virginia, Salem, an independent city adjacent to Roanoke, Virginia. The team competes at the Single-A level in the Car ...

and Double-A

Portland Sea Dogs The Portland Sea Dogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Portland, Maine, playing in the Eastern League (1938–present), Eastern League. Established in 1994, the Sea Dogs are the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red ...

, appearing in a total of 28 games while compiling a 9–5 record with 3.35 ERA. After the season, he played in the

Arizona Fall League The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season baseball league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are filled ...

. The Red Sox added Hernández to their

40-man roster A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, an ...

after the 2018 season, in order to protect him from the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

. In 2019, Hernández had a 0.82

ERA An era is a span of time. Era or ERA may also refer to: * Era (geology), a subdivision of geologic time * Calendar era Education * Academy of European Law (German: '), an international law school * ERA School, in Melbourne, Australia * E ...

with the Red Sox in

spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...

, second only to

Chris Sale Christopher Allen Sale (born March 30, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. He throws left-handed ...

, and was optioned to Double-A Portland prior to

Opening Day Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent year ...

. On April 23, Hernández was added to Boston's major league active roster for the first time, as the 26th man for the second game of a doubleheader. He made his MLB debut that day, pitching scoreless innings against the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

while striking out four; he was optioned back to Portland following the game. Hernández was briefly recalled to Boston in late May but did not make an appearance. On June 10, the Red Sox announced that Hernández would be recalled to make his first MLB start on June 11, against the Texas Rangers. In that start, Hernández struck out the first four batters he faced, but issued five walks in three innings, while allowing four runs on three hits and taking the loss. He was optioned back to Portland the next day. On June 15, Hernández was promoted to the Triple-A

Pawtucket Red Sox The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...

, and he was recalled to Boston on July 16. In 29 games (one start) with the 2019 Red Sox, Hernández compiled an 0–1 record with 4.45 ERA and 57 strikeouts in innings. On July 4, 2020, it was announced that Hernández had tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

. During the delayed-start 2020 season, he remained on the

injured list In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL). General guidelines ...

until activated on August 20. He was again on the injured list from the end of August until September 18, due to a left

AC joint The acromioclavicular joint, or AC joint, is a joint at the top of the shoulder. It is the junction between the acromion (part of the scapula that forms the highest point of the shoulder) and the clavicle. It is a plane synovial joint. Structure ...

sprain. Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Hernández appeared in six games (all in relief), compiling a 1–0 record with 2.45 ERA and 11 strikeouts in

innings pitched In baseball, the statistic innings pitched (IP) is the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of Batter (baseball), batters and baserunners that have been put out while the pitcher is on the Baseball field#Pitcher's mou ...

. Hernández began the 2021 season as a member of Boston's bullpen. On July 31, he was placed on the injured list due to a right

oblique strain The abdominal external oblique muscle (also external oblique muscle or exterior oblique) is the largest and outermost of the three flat abdominal muscles of the lateral anterior abdomen. Structure The external oblique is situated on the lateral ...

. He returned to the team on September 10. Overall during the regular season, Hernández made 48 appearances with Boston, all in relief, compiling a 2–2 record with 3.38 ERA; he struck out 54 batters in 40 innings. Hernández opened 2022 in Triple-A with the

Worcester Red Sox The Worcester Red Sox (nicknamed the WooSox) are a professional minor league baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Beginning play in 2021, the team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, succeeding the Pawtucket Red Sox. Th ...

, until suffering a torn right meniscus that required surgery in May. He returned to Worcester in early July, was added to Boston's active roster on July 14, and was optioned back to Worcester on July 26. Hernández was also with Boston for 10 days in the first half of August, and recalled by Boston on October 3 for the final series of the season. In seven relief appearances with Boston during 2022, Hernández posted a 21.60 ERA with 0–1 record while striking out nine batters in innings. Hernández was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

on January 6, 2023, to make room on the team's 40-man roster due to the signing of Justin Turner.

Baltimore Orioles

On January 11, 2023, Hernández was traded to the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

in exchange for cash considerations. On January 26, Hernández was designated for assignment by Baltimore following the acquisition of Cole Irvin. On February 2, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's loc ...

. In 27 games for Norfolk, he registered a 2.96 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 1 save in innings pitched. On July 27, Hernández was released by the Orioles organization.

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On July 28, 2023, Hernández signed with the

(NPB). The signing was made with the intention for Hernández to fill in for the injured Liván Moinelo. On August 23, Hernández pitched against the

Chiba Lotte Marines The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba, Chiba, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by Lotte Holdings, Lotte Holdings Co., Ltd. The Marines were a founding member of the Pacific Le ...

in the

Pacific League The , or , or the , due to sponsorship reasons, is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the a ...

. On December 13, 2023, announced that his

uniform number In team sports, the number, often referred to as the uniform number, squad number, jersey number, shirt number, sweater number, or similar (with such naming differences varying by sport and region) is the number worn on a player's uniform, to id ...

would be changed from 61 to 63. In 2025, Hernández re-signed with the Hawks for a third season.

References

External links

*
Career statistics - NPB.jp

- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site {{DEFAULTSORT:Hernández, Darwinzon 1996 births Living people Baseball players from Ciudad Bolívar Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Major League Baseball players from Venezuela 21st-century Venezuelan sportsmen Major League Baseball pitchers Boston Red Sox players Dominican Summer League Red Sox players Lowell Spinners players Norfolk Tides players Greenville Drive players Salem Red Sox players Portland Sea Dogs players Mesa Solar Sox players Worcester Red Sox players Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks players 2023 World Baseball Classic players