MLB: Ten Current Players Who Could Make the Hall of Fame
By David Hill
Felix Hernandez 147-105, 3.11 ERA, 1.172 WHiP, 2195 strikeouts
Perhaps the shining example of how much wins do not matter when it comes to evaluating a pitcher, Felix Hernandez has been one of the best pitchers during his time, even if his record does not support that thought.
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A workhorse from the time that he reached the Majors as a 19 year old, Hernandez has been a mainstay in the Seattle Mariners rotation. Even during the team’s struggles, he was the one pitcher that the team had confidence in, a player capable of leading them to victory every time out. The Mariners may have struggled, but Hernandez was still an ace, capable of matching anyone in the league.
Even though he has yet to pitch for a team that made the postseason, Hernandez has received quite a bit of recognition. He has made six All Star Games and won a Cy Young award while finishing second twice. That Cy Young award was a sign of the changing times when it comes to how pitchers are evaluated, as Hernandez was only 13-12 that season, despite a league leading 2.27 ERA.
At this point, it may be fair to wonder if Hernandez’ workload is catching up. He has lost that blazing fastball, relying more on his changeup and ability to mix pitches to remain effective. While his walk rate had skyrocketed, Hernandez was still able to do just that before landing on the disabled list with strained calf.
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Felix Hernandez has been a dominant starter in his career, even if his won-loss record does not agree. In fact, his Hall of Fame candidacy could come down to how the voters look at that record.