Yadiel Hernández is a heralded veteran with the Tecolotes de Dos Laredos of the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol. The ex-big leaguer has wealth of experience at the plate and figures to be an integral part of the team’s lineup on the season.
In the early going this year the Cuban slugger is second in the league in homeruns (7), sixth in RBIs (22) and hits a robust .375. The outfielder was a key piece of the team’s lineup last season going yard 14 times and driving in the 70 runs.
Hernández also saw action in major leagues with the Washington Nationals from 2020 to 2022 slashing a solid .267/.315/.412/.727, while also hitting 19 homeruns and driving 79 runs over that span. He has also plenty of international experience with Cuba, winning a Serie del Caribe in 2015 with the Vegueros de Pinar del Río.
This is your third year in the LMB. How has the pitching talent changed with the number of foreigners teams are allowing now?
I’ve said it repeatedly: I think we’re at a higher level right now. Maybe between Triple-A and the Major Leagues. There are many players here who have played in MLB; since there are 20 foreigners, most come here, and right now the pitching is at a tremendous level.
This is your second year with the Tecos. What role do you have on the team, and what’s the chemistry like in the clubhouse?
My role as a veteran is to try to do my job as I’ve always done, and help the youth on the team, the new guys learn a little more about baseball and mature as players.
You’re the league’s home run leader and you’re in the top three in RBIs, Did you expect a start like this?
The truth is, you always have the goal of doing well, starting well and finishing well. I didn’t really think about it that much because I had a pretty bad training camp, but, well, it was only training camp. I was just preparing for this, for a good season. That’s what you do; in the end, it’s not the training that counts, it’s the season that counts, and so far, thank God, I’ve started well.
As you’ve usually done in your career, you’ve drawn many walks this season. How do you achieve this patience at the plate?
You’ve already said it, you always try to be patient. Often times when you’re not patient, it’s because you’re impatient and half-crazy, swinging at everything that comes across the plate. Right now, I’m trying to close my strike zone and only swing at my pitches.
Now, this year, what are the team’s collective ambitions?
I’ll be honest with you, my main goal this year is really to win. Last year we were close and lost due to certain in-game factors, things that are part of the game, but this year the goal is to try to overcome that and win the championship.