Livan Hernandez hasn’t yet earned the Mets No. 5 rotation spot, but No. 61 is contributing in other areas as well.
Hernandez taught Mets’ starter Mike Pelfrey a new sinker, and it came in handy during the club’s 12-1 win over the Houston Astros in Port St. Lucie Thursday. Pelfrey pitched six strong innings, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out three.
Back to Hernandez, if he makes the club (and no one else right now is making a better case) he’d become the both the fifth starter and the fifth Met to wear No. 61, according to our friends at Mets by the Numbers. Numbers in the 60s tend to go to Spring Training rookies and late season call-ups, but Jesse Orosco, Mario Ramirez, Jeff Duncan and Chan Ho Park have all sported it for at least one game.
