The winner of WBN’s International Player of the Week is Cuban Pitcher Pavel Hernandez. Hernandez threw a no-hitter for Industriales de Habana on May 7 in a 7-0 victory against Sabuesos de Holguín in 63 Serie Nacional de Béisbol at Calixto García Iñiguez Stadium in the Holguín province of Cuba.
Hernandez struck out eight batters in nine scoreless innings and didn’t commit any walks. One error from Industriales de Habana kept it from being a perfect game.
Hernandez threw 122 pitches, and the last out of the game was a groundout to shortstop hit by Sabuesos de Holguín infielder Yordan Manduley. He threw .67 percent of his pitches for strikes with 82 strikes.
Hernandez was the 66th pitcher in the history of the Cuban National Series to throw a no-hitter and the sixth for Industriales de Habana.
Hernandez, 27, is a right-handed pitcher who tops out around 94 mph with his fastball and throws a slider and changeup. He produced 13 groundouts in his no-hitter and seven fly balls, but only four of those fly balls reached the outfield.
Hernandez has made two starts for Industriales de Habana this year in 63 Serie Nacional de Béisbol. His numbers are 15 innings, 10 strikeouts, and an ERA 1.20.
Hernandez has extensive prior experience with Industriales de Habana, and this is his eighth time playing in the Cuban National Series for them. He made his debut in 2016 when he was 19.
Hernandez has also pitched in the Cuban Elite League with Industriales de Habana for two years starting in 2022.
Hernandez was also invited to Spring Training with Rieleros de Aguascalientes in Liga Mexicana de Béisbol this past Spring. He pitched for them during the 2023 season but didn’t make the roster this season and went back to Cuba.
His career numbers are 360.1 innings, 235 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.62.
Industriales de Habana (24-20) will continue their series against Sabuesos de Holguín (17-27) on May 9.
The Cuban National Series has 16 teams, and the top six teams qualify for the Cuban Elite League.