Hernandez is back with the Indians
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July 21, 2012
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Today the Indians have announced that right-handed pitcher Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, has been granted his visa by the U.S. Consulate in the Dominican Republic and is scheduled to arrive in Cleveland this evening.
With the government's decision made and his return official, Major League Baseball handed down a three week suspension for age and idenity fraud. He is eligible to return on August 11th.
That suspension is not necessarily a bad thing as while he is serving his suspension Hernandez is allowed to participate in workourts to get himself ready to pitch again and can pitch on a minor league rehab assignment while serving the suspension.
“Roberto Hernandez has acquired his visa to enter the United States and we are eager for him to return to competition," Indians Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Antonetti said in a statement. "He is en route to Cleveland now and will report to Progressive Field Sunday morning, where he will address the media and throw for our Major League staff. After that, he will join one of the club’s Minor League teams and continue preparing for his return to the Major League team.”
Hernandez has been throwing since April in the Dominican Republic so it should not take him long to get ready and be an option for the Indians at the big league level. Depending how far along Hernandez is in his throwing program and what they see from him in a bullpen session in the next few days, he could immediately begin a rehab assigment and get in three to four starts in the minors so he is ready to go when his suspension ends on August 10th.
Hernandez still does not count on the 40-man roster because he is on the restricted list and they are not required to remove him from it for 30 days. Once the suspension is over and he is officially activated, the Indians will need to make a roster move to clear a player from the 40-man roster to get Hernandez back on it.
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User Comments
I guess you could flip back to last yr. there's no starting depth bc of the Jimenez tr. and so the tribe couldn't take from one weak spot for another. Then again injuries to Austin Adams, Matt Packer, CC Lee and the Carmona / Hernandez debacle.
Tomlin has seriously struggled, frankly I'm hoping the Tribe is able to flip him in a pkg deal for a pitcher.
At this point adding Hernandez back is like making a deal.
I still believe the Tribe makes a cpl moves.
As for Tomlin, I've never been a big fan of him being a regular in a rotation...but think a lot is still yet to happen with regards to the rotation before Hernandez gets here. I still think there's another move to be made....and it could ease the choices...
More on that in my sub duty with Tribe Happenings...
Anyway, a big welcome back to Roberto who has the opportunity to come to the rescue of our starting pitching and replace another pitcher who was prematurely judged to be a super pickup. Chances are not great but better than alternatives IMO.
A big cheer for Adam McGavin on his recent article which was balanced and accurate about the Tribe's current market position and more perceptive than other reporters in this readers opinion. Go Adam!