Roberto Hernandez first MLB free-agent Rays SP since '05
On Thursday afternoon, Roberto Hernandez will become the Tampa Bay Rays' first starting pitcher in eight years whom they acquired as a major-league free agent.
By
Matt Snyder
•
1 min read
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Talk about a franchise used to homegrowing starting pitching. When Roberto Hernandez toes the slab for the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday (3:10 p.m. ET) against the Orioles, it will mark the first time since 2005 that the Rays have used a starting pitcher whom they acquired as a major-league free agent -- snapping a streak of 1,207 games without using one (via Rays official Twitter account).
The last time that a Rays starting pitcher was an MLB free-agent acquisition was July 25, 2005 (via Hardball Talk), when Hideo Nomo took the hill for Lou Piniella's Devil Rays against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Devil Rays' starting lineup that game:
1. Carl Crawford, LF
2. Julio Lugo, SS
3. Jorge Cantu, 3B
4. Jonny Gomes, RF
6. Eduardo Perez, 1B
7. Aubrey Huff, DH
8. Damon Hollins, CF
9. Nick Green, 2B
The Devil Rays would lose that game 11-6, putting them at 29-62 for the season.
And Thursday will mark the first time since then they've used a starting pitcher whom they signed as a major-league free agent.
