Name is pronounced ROO-nell-vees...has two sons, Runelvys Jr. and Griffin Antonio, and one daughter...graduated from Cesar Nicolas Pension (DR) High School in 1997.
2006
SUMMARY: Went 6-10 with a 6.48 ERA in 21 starts with Kansas City and 5-6 with a 4.59 ERA in
12 games (11 starts) with Triple-A Omaha...made three starts at Omaha to open the season before
defeating Minnesota in his 2006 K.C. debut on April 26...was 1-4 when he was optioned to Omaha
on May 28 before returning to the Royals for the rest of the season on July 21...his best stretch of the year was a 3-1, 2.88 performance over five starts from Aug. 10-Sept. 1...that included a
complete game, 2-0 victory on August 26 at Toronto...overall, ranked second on the Royals staff in starts and was third in wins and innings (109.2)...was released by Kansas City on Dec. 7 and signed with the Red Sox on Dec. 22.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Struck out 50 and walked 48...opponents batted .327, the highest average
in Royals club history for a pitcher with at least 20 starts...went 6.0 innings or more in eight of his
21 starts, with the Royals going 6-2 in those contests...went at least 7.0 innings five times, with the
Royals winning all five games...was 2-10 with an 8.67 ERA in his other 16 starts...earned the win in
his Royals debut on April 26 vs. Minnesota, allowing just one run on two hits in 7.0 innings...was 1-2
with a 10.67 ERA in three starts in his first stint with the O-Royals and 4-4 with a 3.17 ERA in nine outings (8 starts) in his second stint.
MORE 2006 HIGHLIGHTS: In his complete game shutout on Aug. 26 at Toronto, allowed just seven
hits and a walk with four strikeouts...marked Kansas City's first complete game shutout since 2004...threw a career-high 121 pitches in the game...gave up at least one home run in each of his first 12 starts (17 HR total), becoming just the second pitcher since 1920 to do so (Bert Blyleven, 1987, 14 straight starts).
2005
Bounced back after missing the entire 2004 season due to Tommy John surgery by posting an 8-14 record and a 5.52 ERA in 29 starts...set career-highs in wins, losses, starts and innings pitched (159.2)...Led the team with 8 wins, marking the fewest wins by the team leader in club
history, surpassing the mark of 9 set in 2004 by Jimmy Gobble and Darrell May...Ranked 3rd on the team in innings pitched, trailing Zack Greinke (183.0) and Jose Lima (168.2)...Made the Royals Opening Day roster for the 2nd time in his career (2003)...Was 5-5 at Kauffman Stadium with a 5.74 ERA (84.2 IP, 54 ER) and went 3-9 with a 5.28 ERA (75.0 IP, 44 ER) on the road...Saw his ERA balloon to 6.56 (60.1 IP, 70 H, 44 ER) in day games, compared to a 4.89 ERA (99.1 IP, 54 ER) in night games...Was 6-9 with a 4.53 ERA (109.1 IP, 55 ER) in 18 starts prior to the All-Star Break, while going 2-5 with a 7.69 ERA (50.1 IP, 43 ER) after the break...Had his best stretch in Interleague play, compiling a 3-1 record with a 2.59 ERA
(24.1 IP, 7 ER), while holding N.L. opponents to just a .193 batting average...his 3 wins were tied for 2nd-most in baseball...Combined for a 6-2 record and a 3.17 ERA (59.2 IP, 51 H, 21 ER) in 10 starts in June and July with the Royals going 8-2 in those starts...finished the season 0-5 with a 9.45 ERA (33.1 IP, 47 H, 35 ER) in his fi nal 8 starts, matching a career-high 5-game losing streak...Made his 1st start at Detroit on April 6 and recorded the win after allowing just 1 run on 5 hits over 7.0 innings...it was his 1st win since Aug. 10, 2003 at Tampa Bay and his 1st start since Aug. 16, 2003 vs. Minnesota...Left the game after being hit on the right arm by a line drive at Toronto on May 9...allowed just 2 earned runs on 5 hits in 5.0 innings, but suffered his career-high 5th-straight loss...Broke his 6-start winless streak and career high 5-game losing streak by picking up a win May 14 vs. Tampa Bay (8.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER)...Allowed just 1 run on 3 hits in 6.0 innings in a Royals 2-1 win over Texas on
June 3, but took a no decision after leaving with the game tied at 1...Did not issue a walk in a 3-2 win vs. the Dodgers on June 14...was the 3rd start
of his career in which he did not walk a batter...allowed 2 runs on 8 hits in 6.0
innings in the victory...Picked up his 3rd straight win June 19 vs. Houston by allowing just 1 run on 1 hit in 7.0 innings in a 7-1 Royals win...the 1 hit allowed equalled a career low...won 3 straight starts for the 1st time since March 31-April 11, 2003...Issued a career-high 7 walks on June 25 at Colorado...Named Royals Pitcher of the Month for June after going 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA (30.1 IP, 20 H, 8 ER) in 5 starts...his 2.37 ERA ranked 9th in MLB and 6th in the AL...his .185 opponents batting average ranked 3rd in baseball...Earned the 5-0 win over Detroit on July 17, tossing 5.0 shutout innings before being thrown out of the game for hitting the Tigers' Carlos Guillen that incited a bench-clearing brawl...was given a 10-game suspension by Major League Baseball...served his suspension from Sept. 6-17...Improved to 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA (26.1 IP, 22 H, 6 ER) at Detroit's Comerica Park with the win on July 17...finished the season 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA (17.0 IP, 17 H, 5 ER) in 3 starts vs. the Tigers...Won his 3rd-straight start and recorded his career-high 8th win in a 5-3 win over Toronto on July 22...allowed 3 runs on 7 hits in 6.0 innings...allowed a run in the 3rd inning which snapped a streak of 13 consecutive scoreless frames...Went 6-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 9 starts from June 3 to July 22...allowed just 46 hits and 16 earned runs in 53.2 innings...Placed on the 15-Day Disabled List with a lower back strain on Aug. 26...was activated on Sept. 6 and began serving his 10-game suspension...reinstated from his suspension on Sept. 17 and made 4 starts the remainder of the season, going 0-3 with a 9.33 ERA.
2004
Missed the entire 2004 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Sept.
5, 2003...the surgery was performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles.
2003
First name is pronounced ROO-nell-vees.
Made the Opening Day roster for the 1st time in his career...was named the Opening Day starter after
winning a coin flip against LHP Jeremy Affeldt in Spring Training.
Became the 1st Latin pitcher to start for the Royals on Opening Day...was the youngest pitcher to
start on Opening Day since Kevin Appier on April 6, 1992 (24 years, 3 months).
Led the Royals to a 3-0 win on Opening Day (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 77 TP), KC's 1st Opening
Day win since March 31, 1998...was the team's 1st-ever shutout on Opening Day or in a home opener...was just
KC's 4th Opening Day win in 18 years.
Entered the season with a 4-4 career record and combined with Jeremy Affeldt (3-4), Miguel Asencio
(4-7), Chris George (4-12) and Darrell May (6-12) for a combined total of 22 career wins...the 1998 Florida
Marlins were the only other team in the last 50 years to open the season with less wins in the rotation
(16)...the team was tied for 7th in Major League history for fewest career wins on Opening Day.
Became the 1st 3-game winner in the Majors after winning his 3rd start at Cleveland on April 11 (7.0
IP, 7 H, 0 ER)...allowed just 1 ER in his 1st 20.0 innings of work (0.45 ERA).
Became the Major's 1st 4-game winner vs. Minnesota on April 22 (6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 3 SO).
Earned a no decision on April 28 at Toronto despite allowing just 2 ER on 7 hits in 7.0 innings...left
with a 7-2 lead on his 25th birthday, only to watch the Blue Jays score 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th and
hand KC a 10-9 loss...the no decision spoiled his chance to become the 1st pitcher in club history to start
5-0 through the month of April.
Was named the Royals Pitcher of the Month for April after posting a 4-0 record through the 1st
month...ranked 2nd in the A.L. for ERA (1.36) and ranked 4th in the Majors... ranked 2nd in the A.L. and 3rd
in the Majors by holding opponents to a .173 average.
Lost 3 straight starts from May 3-14 (at BAL, vs. BAL, at MIN)...allowed 18 hits and 12 ER in 16.1
innings (6.61 ERA) during the skid before he was placed on the D.L.
Was placed on the Disabled List on May 27 with inflammation in his right elbow and missed 42 games
before being reinstated on July 11.
Made 3 rehab starts, including 2 at AA Wichita (June 20 and 25)...threw 9.1 innings, gave up 4 ER and
struck out 5 for the Wranglers...allowed 1 ER and struck out 5 in 5.0 innings in a start for Omaha (AAA).
Returned from the D.L. with a no decision in KC's 13-3 win at Texas (4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 66
TP).
Snapped a 6-game winless streak with a win at July Detroit on July 25 (6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER) for his 1st
win since April 22.
Earned a 13-9 win at Chicago on Aug. 4 despite allowing 8 hits, 4 walks and 6 ER in 5.0
innings...allowed a 3-run homer to Joe Crede in the 5th before giving way to the bullpen.
Was 2-1 in 3 August starts with a 10.57 ERA (15.1 IP, 18 ER).
Prior to the All-Star Break, Hernandez posted a 4-3 record with a 3.05 ERA, holding opponents to a
.203 batting average...was just 3-2 with a 7.89 ERA after the break, with opponents hitting at a .336 clip
against him.
Was charged with a loss against Minnesota on Aug. 16 after giving up a career-high 9 hits and 9 ER in
3.1 innings...was optioned to Wichita on Aug. 17...did not report to Wichita after reporting soreness in his
right elbow...had his option voided on Aug. 26 and was placed on the 15-day Disabled List (retro to Aug. 17)
with a partial tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament.
Missed the remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Sept. 5...the surgery was
performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles.
2002
First name is pronounced ROO-nell-vees.
Began the 2002 season at Wilmington (A) where he was 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 2 starts (12.0 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO).
Was promoted to Wichita (AA) and went 8-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 14 starts (106.1 IP, 96 H, 38 R, 32 ER, 24 BB, 86 SO).
Had his contract purchased on July 15 and started the 2nd game of a doubleheader, earning a no decision in KC's 6-4 win...he allowed single runs in the 1st and 4th innings...left the game with a 4-2 lead after 5 innings.
Earned his 1st Major League victory in his 2nd start vs. Cleveland in the 1st game of a double header on July 20...allowed 7 hits and 3 earned runs in 7.0 innings, but was optioned to Wichita following the game to make room for Chuck Knoblauch who was activated from the D.L.
Tied a club individual season high with 9 strikeouts vs. Cleveland in the 7-5 win to give Kansas City its 9th straight win.
Was charged with his 1st Major League loss on Aug. 1, despite allowing just 3 runs in 6.2 innings of a 3-2 loss vs. Toronto.
Was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for June 17-23.
Was named a Texas League All-Star at the conclusion of the season.
Minor League Notes
Jumped from Salcedo, the Royals Dominican League team to the Major Leagues in a span of 2 years.
Led Burlington in strikeouts in 2001...joined the Bees on May 30 from extended Spring Training.
