SEATTLE -- Félix Hernández's pitching plans in the Venezuelan Winter League have been cut short as the Mariners' ace is done following just two starts with his hometown Magallanes squad after it was eliminated from the upcoming playoffs, Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed on Friday.
Hernandez's agent told Venezuelan journalist Marcos Grunfeld on Friday that Hernandez didn't make his name available to the remaining playoff teams in the draft process that is held to allocate players from eliminated squads to compete in the postseason.
Dipoto said Hernandez is fine physically, but he didn't want to pitch for another team once Magallanes was eliminated. Dipoto said Hernandez is now done pitching until Spring Training.
The 30-year-old Hernandez pitched two games for Magallanes as he worked to build up some early arm strength prior to competing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic in March. Hernandez allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in four innings in his final outing on Thursday, closing out with three perfect frames after allowing all the damage in the first.
Hernandez threw 63 pitches in that game after being limited to 28 pitches while allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in his Venezuelan debut a week earlier.
Hernandez was pitching in the Venezuelan League for the first time since 2003, when he was 17 years old and just beginning his pro career.
Though six of eight teams make the Venezuelan League playoffs, Magallanes is now eliminated with a 29-34 record.
Hernandez will continue working out prior to heading to Mariners camp in Peoria, Ariz., where pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12. Like other Mariners who'll compete for their various countries in the WBC, he'll practice with the team in February and then join his WBC squad in early March.
WBC players will return to their Major League training camps after their countries are eliminated from the tournament. The final four WBC teams will finish up in the championship round at Dodger Stadium from March 20-22. The Mariners begin their regular-season schedule on April 3 in Houston.