Cleveland Guardians reliever Carlos Hernandez was badly injured in a car crash in his native Venezuela on Sunday, Jan. 11, according to news reports.
Hernandez, 28, was driving in Puerto Ordaz toward San Felix in Venezuela’s Bolivar state when his Toyota sport utility vehicle was involved in a crash. The pitcher was trapped in the wreckage briefly until he was freed by first responders and taken to the hospital, according to reports in Venezuelan media.
El lanzador Carlos Hernández de los #Leones del Caracas sufrió un accidente en San Félix. Afortunadamente fue sacado con vida de su vehículo. Noticia en desarrollo. pic.twitter.com/Yvp3KdgQnT
— Georgeny Pérez (@GeorgenyPerez) January 11, 2026
Multiple reports indicated that Hernandez suffered a broken left arm and a broken right femur.
Hernandez made 17 appearances for the Leones del Caracas of the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional this winter, throwing 14 1/3 innings with a 10.05 ERA. He split the summer of 2025 between the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Guardians, making a total of 41 appearances totaling 43 1/3 innings with a 6.23 ERA, 39 strikeouts, and 22 walks. In six MLB seasons with Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and the Kansas City Royals, Hernandez has a career ERA of 5.14 in 191 appearances totaling 299 2/3 innings with 265 strikeouts and 147 walks.
A native of Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela, Hernandez signed a minor league deal with Cleveland for 2026 that includes an invite to MLB spring training.
WBN Venezuela: https://worldbaseball.com/league/venezuela/
Photo: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Carlos Hernández, left, and right fielder Nick Castellanos celebrate after the Phillies won a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
