Livan Hernandez broke onto the scene in Portland in 1996, posting a 9-2 record, a record that still stands as the best single-season win-loss percentage (.818) by a pitcher in Sea Dogs history. The Cuban defector graduated to the Florida Marlins later that year, and then enjoyed a breakout rookie campaign in 1997. Hernandez went 9-3 with a 3.18 ERA and finished second to Scott Rolen in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. However, Hernandez saved his best work for the playoffs, winning four games (including a complete-game three-hit, 15-strikeout performance against Atlanta in Game Five of the National League Championship Series and wins over Cleveland in Games One and Five of the World Series) to earn both NLCS and World Series MVP honors. A two-time Major League Baseball All-Star, Hernandez has won 145 games in a 13 year Major League career spent with Florida, San Francisco, Montreal, Washington, Arizona, Minnesota, and most recently the Colorado Rockies.  His 145 career wins are the fifth most by a Cuban-born pitcher in Major League history.  Hernandez is currently pitching for the Colorado Rockies.

Livan Hernandez on his Hall of Fame Selection:
 “I am very surprised and humbled by this honor.  Thank you for remembering me.”

Livan Hernandez recalling some of his memories in Portland in 1996:
 “That was a very good team with several big leaguers on it.  I remember playing with Luis Castillo and Kevin Millar and the great seasons that they had.  We had a great season and finished first that year.  I wish we could have beaten Harrisburg in the finals but that year remains a great memory for me because it was my first year in the United States and I finished the season in the big leagues.  I also remember one other thing…how cold it was! “