Hernandez was the Phillies’ starting second baseman from 2015 to 2019, appearing in over 125 games each season.
His greatest year was 2016 when he led the National League with 11 triples while hitting.294, but he also had a strong season in 2017, hitting .294 with an OPS+ of 110.
He was a below-average hitter the last three years due to his lack of power: he only hit 30 doubles in 2019, and his career high for home runs was 15, in 2018.
He batted at the top of the order most of the time, with over 700 plate appearances in 2018, but the Phillies were never a dangerous offensive team during that time, and their final two seasons were spent hovering around .500.
After a dismal 2019 season, the organization decided that improved output from its infielders was the key to getting over the hump, and Hernandez and 3B Maikel Franco were released.
He signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians on December 29th, worth $6.25 million, after the Phillies declined to award him arbitration.
In 2020, Hernandez was promoted to second base and designated hitter for the Indians. He became the first Indians player to hit a lead-off home run in two consecutive games on August 23-24.
During the truncated season, he appeared in 58 games for Cleveland, hitting .283 and leading the American League with 20 doubles and three home runs.
In the postseason, he went 3 for 8 with a two-run home run in Cleveland’s Wild Card Series loss to the New York Yankees.
He re-signed with the Indians following the season, and on April 1, 2021, he had the honor of getting the first hit of the major league season when he doubled against Matthew Boyd as the second batter in a game against the Detroit Tigers.
How Much Does César Hernández Make?
César Hernández earns an average of $4 million each year. Hernandez will be paid $4,000,000 per year in 2022.