Indians Name Chuck Hernandez as Bullpen Coach
The Cleveland Indians and Manager ERIC WEDGE today announced the hiring of CHUCK HERNANDEZ as Major League Bullpen Coach.
Hernandez, 48, has spent the last 3 seasons as the Pitching Coach of the Detroit Tigers since 2006. During his first season in Detroit he guided Tigers pitchers to the lowest ERA in the American League (3.84) on their way to the club’s first American League pennant in 22 seasons. Prior to joining Jim Leyland in Detroit, Hernandez held the same position for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2004 & ’05 after serving as Tampa’s Minor League Pitching Coordinator from 1997-2003.
The Tampa, FL native will be entering his 31st season of professional baseball in 2009. He began his playing career in 1979 and pitched 5 minor league seasons in the Yankees and White Sox organizations (1979-83). He began his coaching career in the White Sox organization in 1985 and eventually became the pitching coach of the California Angels at the age of 32 in 1992, a position he held until 1996.
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
