Roberto Hernández Heredia (born August 30, 1980) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves.
Hernández was a regular part of the Indians' starting rotation for six years under the name of Fausto Carmona, which he had used to obtain a visa to pitch in the United States. After Hernández’s true name and age were revealed (he was three years older than he claimed), Hernández missed much of the 2012 season due to lack of a valid visa, followed by a suspension from MLB for identity fraud. He returned to the league in 2013 with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Coincidentally, while playing as Fausto Carmona for the Cleveland Indians in 2007, Hernández had a teammate whose name was also Roberto Hernández.
Hernández (as Carmona) was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cleveland Indians on December 28, 2000. In 2003, he compiled a record of 17–4 with a 2.06 ERA in 24 starts for the Single-A Lake County Captains. This led to him being honored as the Most Outstanding Player of the South Atlantic League, receiving All-Star honors both for the South Atlantic League and for all of Class-A, and he was named the Indians' 2003 Minor League Player of the Year (receiving the "Lou Boudreau Award"). He split 2004 between the Single-A Kinston Indians of the Carolina League and the Double-A Akron Aeros of the Eastern League. Combined, he was 10–10 with a 4.09 ERA in 28 starts.
The following year, 2005, Hernández split his time between the Aeros and the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League. He was 13–9 with a 3.68 ERA in 26 starts.
On April 15, 2006, Hernández made his MLB debut, starting against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. He pitched six innings, giving up one earned run and striking out four. He earned the win, which was his only win of the season.
On July 20, 2006, the Indians traded closer Bob Wickman to the Atlanta Braves, and the Indians chose Hernández to fill the role. In the span of seven days (from July 30 through August 5), Hernández recorded four losses and three blown saves for the Indians, including walk-off home runs surrendered to Boston's David Ortiz and Detroit's Iván Rodríguez. Hernández lost the closer role to Tom Mastny soon thereafter.
After the closer experiment, Hernández was demoted to Triple-A Buffalo on August 26, where he was placed back in a starting role. He was promoted to Cleveland again in September, and finished the season as a starter. Hernández ended the 2006 season with a record of 1–10 and a 5.42 ERA in 38 games (seven starts).
In 2007, Hernández was originally slated to be the Indians' spot starter and to begin the season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. However, after Cliff Lee went down with an abdominal strain in spring training that would force him to miss at least the first three weeks of the season, the Indians gave Hernández the opportunity to start in Lee's place. In Hernández's first start of the season, on April 13, the Chicago White Sox battered him for six earned runs in 4+1⁄3 innings.
Hernández quickly rebounded, however, holding the New York Yankees' potent offense to just two runs in six innings in his next start on April 19. He received a no decision, however, when Joe Borowski allowed six runs in the ninth inning to give the Yankees the win. Hernández settled into a groove and won his next five starts, allowing just six earned runs over 39 innings. During this streak, Hernández beat two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins twice and pitched his first career complete game shutout. After one of these wins, Minnesota center fielder Torii Hunter was quoted as saying, "I can't wait until we face normal pitchers. This guy's sinker is practically unhittable."
On July 25, Hernández tossed eight shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox in a 1–0 Indians win. The victory improved his record to 5–0 in July. Hernández went on to go 19–8 with a 3.06 ERA and 215 innings pitched in 32 starts for the 2007 season.
True to his dominant 2007 regular season form, Hernández, in his first career postseason game in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS against the Yankees and Andy Pettitte, allowed just one earned run on three hits over nine innings in an extra-inning win for Cleveland. On October 20, Hernández was battered by the Red Sox at Fenway Park in Game 6 of the 2007 ALCS, surrendering seven runs in two plus innings, including a first-inning grand slam by J.D. Drew. The Indians would go on to lose the game and the series, despite having led the series three games to one.
Hernández received serious consideration for the AL Cy Young award, along with teammate CC Sabathia, Boston's Josh Beckett, and the Angels' John Lackey. He ultimately finished fourth in 2007 AL Cy Young voting.
On April 10, 2008, the Indians signed Hernández to a four-year $15 million contract extension through 2011 with three individual club options through 2014. If all options had been exercised, Hernández would have made $43 million, with another $5 million available in escalators.
Hernández started the 2008 season off strong, going 4–2 with a 3.10 ERA in his first eight starts. On May 23, he left his start against the Texas Rangers with a left hip strain after running to cover first base. Hernández was placed on the disabled list the next day, where he remained for two months before making his return to the starting rotation on July 26.
On September 19 against Detroit, Hernández hit Gary Sheffield with a pitch. The two exchanged words as Sheffield walked to first base with his bat tucked under this arm. Before the next pitch, Hernández made a pick-off throw to first base. Sheffield again started exchanging words with Hernández, and this time charged the mound, inducing a bench-clearing brawl. Hernández was seen landing several punches to Sheffield's head, which left him bloodied. Hernández and Sheffield were both ejected, along with Indians catcher Víctor Martínez and Tigers second baseman Plácido Polanco. Hernández was suspended six games for his role in the brawl.
Hernández had a subpar 2009 season, starting 24 games for Cleveland, going 5–12 with 6.32 ERA. He struck out 79 batters in 125+1⁄3 innings. The Indians finished the year fourth in the AL Central with 65–97 record. In 2010, Hernández improved dramatically from 2009 and was honored with his first All Star selection. He had a 13–14 record with a 3.77 ERA, while striking out 124 batters in 210+1⁄3 innings.
On February 28, 2011, Indians manager Manny Acta announced that Hernández had been selected as the starter for Cleveland's season opener against the Chicago White Sox. The April 1 start would be his first on Opening Day.