Marlins A to Z: The “H” Team

The Florida & Miami Marlins have seen 37 “H” players come through.

Out of the 590 total players to take the field for the Florida & Miami Marlins over their first 27 seasons, 37 have had a last name beginning with the letter “H.” This is the eighth edition of the “alphabet series.” The first seven are here:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G

The Starting Nine

The starting catcher for the “H” team is recent ex-Marlins catcher Bryan Holaday. A right-handed batter and thrower, Holaday played in 104 games for the Miami Marlins over the past two seasons. He slashed a collective .237/.297/.335, with five homers and 28 RBI. He also pitched three times, and led the National League in 2018 with a 45 percent kill rate on base-stealers.

First baseman Brett Hayes, normally a catcher, did appear twice at first base for the Marlins between 2009 and 2012. With a dearth of “normal” first basemen on the roster, Hayes gets the job. in 143 games in total, he hit .217/.266/.361 with eight homers and 27 RBI.

At second base, Rosell Herrera fills in at one of his six skilled positions. He played in 63 games last year for the Miami Marlins, although only once at second base. A larger-than-expected share of outfielders made this necessary. Although Herrera isn’t much of a hitter, with a .200/.288/.314 average, his defensive acumen makes him an attractive utility-man.

Wes Helms starts at third base for the Florida Marlins. In 581 games in 2006 and from 2008 through 2011, he slashed a .257/.321/.390 line with 22 homers and 156 RBI.

At shortstop, Adeiny Hechavarria leads the “H” team with 599 appearances. He slashed .255/.292/.336 and clubbed 13 homers and 168 RBI. He also stole 26 bases, and at-times highlight reel defensive work at shortstop from 2013 through 2017.

Left fielder Todd Hollandsworth spent the 2003 World Championship season with the Florida Marlins. In 93 games, he hit .254/.317/.421 with three home runs and 20 RBI. In the postseason, he was four-for-eight with a pair of RBI over nine appearances.

In center field, Gorkys Hernandez joined the Miami Marlins via trade deadline deal from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012. Over the last part of the season, he went 28-for-132 with three home runs and 11 RBI in 45 games.

Right fielder Jeremy Hermida played in 516 games for the Florida Marlins from 2005 through 2009. He went deep 57 times with 210 RBI, and slashed a .265/.344/.425 line.

Filling in at designated hitter, Tim Hyers. He gets the job as the player with the most plate appearances after the first eight (and pinch-hitting specialist Lenny Harris).

In reserve, the Marlins employ catcher Koyie Hill, first baseman Paul Hoover, infielder-outfielder Kike Hernandez, outfielder Destin Hood, and Harris.

Rotation

Staff ace Dan Haren is the only Marlins “starter” with an ERA+ over the league average of 100, at 111. He played the first four months of the 2015 campaign with the team, before getting traded to the Chicago Cubs at the deadline. Haren was 7-7 in 21 starts, with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.093 WHIP.

Number two starter Liván Hernández, out of Cuba, made his major league debut with the Florida Marlins in 1996 and remained with the team until 1999. He racked up a 24-24 record over 70 starts, with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.510 WHIP, along with 333 whiffs in 469 2/3 innings. He also earned the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, despite an in-series WHIP of 1.829 by going 2-0 over his two starts.

In the number three slot, first ever Marlins pitcher Charlie Hough. His last two major league seasons overlapped with the first two Florida Marlins campaigns. Hough struck out the first two batters he faced while pitching for the team, and 189 more over his final 55 professional starts. Hough went 14-25 for the Marlins with a 4.58 ERA.

At number four, fellow original-Marlins pitcher Chris Hammond. Hammond started 81 games for the Marlins from 1993 through 1996 and in 1998, appearing an additional 30 times out of the bullpen. Hammond was 29-32 with a 4.52 ERA while striking out 332 batters in 520 innings.

Rounding out the rotation is more recent Marlins veteran Brad Hand. A starter for the Marlins 43 times out of his 90 overall appearances from 2011 through 2015, Hand later blossomed into a three-time All Star after leaving the Marlins. While with the team, he was 9-25 with a 4.71 ERA.

Bullpen

Bryan Harvey saved 51 games for the Marlins from 1993 through 1995, racking up a 2.50 ERA and striking out 83 in 79 1/3 innings.

Future Hall-of-Famer Trevor Hoffman is a pretty good backup-plan for closer. In 28 games he was 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings. After leaving the Marlins, he saved another 599 games — 552 with the San Diego Padres and another 47 for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Elieser Hernandez has started 21 times for the Miami Marlins over the last two seasons. He’s also come out of the bullpen 32 times. Hernandez has pitched 148 innings in total, racking up 130 strikeouts and a 1.331 WHIP.

Clay Hensley struck out 123 in 142 2/3 innings between 2010 and 2011 while pitching for the Florida Marlins.

More from Marlins All-Time Lists

Rick Helling pitched for the Marlins in 1996 and 1997, but was traded away before they won their first World Series. He rejoined the team in 2003 and helped them to their second. In 47 regular season games he totaled a 3.30 ERA in 120 innings of work.

Felix Heredia pitched for the Marlins from 1996 though 1998, going 6-7 with a 4.72 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 114 1/3 innings.

Mark Hutton was 8-2 in 45 games for the Marlins in 1996 and 1997.

The Florida & Miami Marlins have seen 37 “H” players come through.

The Starting Nine

Rotation

Bullpen

More from Marlins All-Time Lists

Schedule