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| Don't call him Fausto, but he's back. (Getty Images) |
Starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez -- or The Artist Formerly Known as Fausto Carmona, as I like to call him -- will make his 2012 debut with the Indians Wednesday. He's taking the place of Josh Tomlin on the roster, who is being placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation.
It's been a long road back for Hernandez. It was discovered this past offseason that his real identity was Roberto Hernandez Heredia, not Fausto Carmona, the name he played under for six major-league seasons.
He was arrested in the Dominican Republic for the fraud and had to restructure his contract with the Indians after it was revealed he was actually three years older than had been previously known. Then he had issues obtaining a visa. Once he finally did, he needed to work himself back into shape.
In four minor-league starts, Hernandez went 2-1 with a 4.07 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He struck out 20 and walked only four in his 24 1/3 innings.
Hernandez, 31, finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2007 and was an All-Star in 2010, but he was pretty bad last season. He was 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.
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