The 1997 World Series hero, former Cuban pitcher Liván Hernández, arrived in Miami this Saturday to participate in Cuban Heritage Day, celebrated at Marlins Park.
"I love this because it brings together all nationalities. Today is the celebration of Cuban heritage, but I also love the Venezuelan, Dominican, and Puerto Rican days," said the Villaclara native.
"I am Cuban by birth, 100 percent Cuban. I represented Cuban pride and all Cubans in the Major Leagues, and that was my dream—to defend my country and my flag. I believe that when you do things like this, everything turns out well," he told the press.
Back in the city where he achieved Major League success, Hernández emphasized, "What we need here is more support for Cubans."
"We need to support each other. The Dominicans fiercely support their players, as do the Venezuelans, and we need to do the same. We need to give a lot of support to Cuban players so that we continue to grow in the Major Leagues," he stressed.
Hernández also shared that he currently wakes up at dawn to train teams in Fort Pierce as part of Perfect Game (13" and 14"), the world's largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service. The brother of Orlando "El Duque" Hernández played 17 seasons in the MLB and never landed on the injured list during his career, amassing 177 wins in the Major Leagues.
Additionally, he led in innings pitched three times, in starts twice, and in complete games twice. With the Florida Marlins in 1997, he won the National League Championship Series MVP and the World Series MVP against the Cleveland Indians. It was during this ceremony that he famously declared, "I LOVE YOU MIAMI!", a phrase that has become one of the most enduring in Marlins history, endearing him to the city. Last April, he was nominated for induction into the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024.
Cuban Heritage Day is celebrated this Saturday at Marlins Park with a baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets, followed by great music from island musicians like El Chacal.
Support for Cuban Baseball Players
Liván Hernández's statements during Cuban Heritage Day highlighted the need for increased support within the Cuban community. Here are some questions and answers related to his comments.
Why does Liván Hernández believe Cubans need to support each other more?
Hernández emphasized that while other nationalities, like Dominicans and Venezuelans, fiercely support their players, Cubans need to do the same to continue growing in the Major Leagues.
What did Liván Hernández achieve in his MLB career?
Liván Hernández played 17 seasons in the MLB, never landed on the injured list, and amassed 177 wins. He also won the NLCS and World Series MVP awards with the Florida Marlins in 1997.