Miami Marlins All-Time Top 50 Players

49. Livan Hernandez (4.5)

Livan Hernandez had a long and notable major league career, playing for a total of nine teams over 17 seasons. Going by ERA+, his second-best season was with the Florida Marlins during their 1997 World Series Championship run.

A Cuban defector, Hernandez signed with the Florida Marlins In January 1996. After spending most of that first calendar year between the Marlins double- and triple-A affiliates (the Portland Sea Dogs and the Charlotte Knights, respectively), Livan joined the Marlins rotation in mid-June of 1997.

Hernandez made 17 starts for the Marlins during the regular season that year, including a gem against the Cincinnati Reds on July 30th. He earned his fifth win (against zero losses) by holding the Reds scoreless on three hits and a pair of walks over eight innings, striking out eight. He ended up 9-3 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.235 WHIP over 96 1/3 innings.

In the Marlins title run, Hernandez won both the NLCS and the World Series Most Valuable Player award. In 29 1/3 postseason innings, Hernandez struck out 26 and went 4-0 with a 3.07 ERA.

Hernandez remained with the Marlins until halfway through the 1999 campaign, when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Nate Bump and Jason Grilli. In total, he was 24-24 for the Marlins, with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.510 career WHIP.