(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Indians today announced the signing of free agent 2BCESAR HERNANDEZ to a Major League contract for the 2021 season with a club option for 2022.
Hernandez, 30, enjoyed his best career season to date in 2020, his first campaign in Cleveland, leading the American League in doubles (20) and winning his first career Rawlings Gold Glove Award. His 1.8 bWAR was fourth on the club behind Shane Bieber, José Ramίrez and Zach Plesac, batting .283 (66-for-233) with 3 home runs, 20 RBI and 35 runs scored. He led the club in hits and doubles, leading AL second basemen in hits, runs and doubles while finishing third in bWAR. He finished third in all of MLB in doubles and became just the fourth Cleveland batter to lead the league in two-base hits since 1996 (G. Sizemore, '06; M. Brantley, '15; J. Ramίrez, '17).
Defensively, the native of Valencia, Venezuela finished second among AL second basemen in Defensive Runs Saved (6) and total chances (210) in route to capturing his first career Gold Glove, the first by a Cleveland 2B since 2001 (Roberto Alomar).
The 40-man roster consists of 39 players.
Year
Team
AVG
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
OPS
.289
34
121
17
35
5
0
0
10
9
26
0
3
.344
.331
.675
.237
66
114
13
27
2
0
1
4
9
33
1
1
.290
.281
.571
.272
127
405
57
110
20
4
1
35
40
86
19
5
.339
.348
.687
.294
155
547
67
161
14
11
6
39
66
116
17
13
.371
.393
.764
.294
128
511
85
150
26
6
9
34
61
104
15
5
.373
.421
.794
2018
.253
161
605
91
153
15
3
15
60
95
155
19
6
.356
.362
.718
2019
.279
161
612
77
171
31
3
14
71
45
100
9
2
.333
.408
.741
2020
Cleveland Indians
.283
58
233
35
66
*20
0
3
20
24
57
0
0
.355
.408
.763
Major League Totals
.277
890
3148
442
873
133
27
49
273
349
677
80
35
.352
.383
.736