Hernandez Catches onto Leadership Role

Hernandez Catches onto Leadership Role

3/2/2006

By Jennifer O’Neill

Although catcher Brian Hernandez has been a Commodore for less than two seasons, he has emerged as a team leader both on and off the field.  As one of only three seniors on the Vanderbilt baseball team this season, Hernandez has helped his young teammates adapt to the rigors of college baseball.

“He has made the transition process a lot easier for all of us,” said freshman infielder Ryan Flaherty.  “This year we have 15 new guys and when you have a team like that you want to find out who the leaders are.  Brian stepped up in practice and on the field.”

While Hernandez has needed four years of college to become a leader, he was regarded as a top prospect coming out of high school.  As a senior in high school, Hernandez was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.  He decided to forego the opportunity to become a pro as a teenager, in favor of attending college and honing his skills as an amateur.

“I decided the best thing for me was to go to college,” Hernandez said.  “A lot of guys go straight to the pros, but I decided going to college would benefit me more, and I’d be more ready for the pros after four years of college.  I think I’m ready now and want to play pro ball after this season.”

While Hernandez always knew he wanted to learn on the baseball diamond and in the classroom at one of the top universities in the South, it took him two years to figure out which one was the right fit for him.

“I’m in my second year now at Vanderbilt,” said the Wellington, Fla. native.  “I made the decision after my sophomore year that I wanted to move [from Duke].  It was a situation where I needed a change of scenery. I had a relationship with Coach [Tim] Corbin in high school, and Vanderbilt fit my criteria perfectly.”

Since transferring to Vanderbilt, Hernandez has steadily improved his game and welcomed his dual role as starting catcher and team leader. He has played in 61 games and started 59 of those outings.

“I take pride in the position I have,” said the 6-1, 210 pound catcher.  “Catching is the only position where everybody on the field is looking at you.  You kind of have to be another coach on the field and help everybody out and direct people in what to do. That is one of my favorite parts of position because I can go out to the mound and calm a pitcher down without Coach Corbin having to come out.”

In addition to being the team’s general in the field, Hernandez is the top returning hitter in Vanderbilt’s lineup.  Last season, he was a second-team All-SEC selection with a .342 batting average to go along with his stellar defensive play.

This season, Hernandez has added new duties to his responsibilities as starting catcher.  He has taken it upon himself to pass on what he has learned to the younger players. 

“I feel like this year, having a year under my belt, I am far more experienced and have learned a ton,” he said.  “I know what the Vanderbilt program is about now and can teach that to others.  We are a pretty young team with only three seniors, so we all are leaders this season.”

Although the Commodores’ freshman class was ranked No. 1 in the nation, Hernandez says they still have things to learn, and he is trying to help them.

“I remember when I was a freshman, and it was a brand new experience,” he said.  “All of these guys were successful in high school, and they will be successful in college, but there is a learning curve.  I’m just trying to teach them our style of play and teach them that it is okay to fail once in awhile.  Vanderbilt plays an up-tempo game, and a lot of them are not used to that.”

The freshmen agree that Hernandez’s leadership has made their adjustment to college baseball a little easier.

“In the beginning of the year, I made an error out in California and he came over to me as we were walking off the field at the end of the inning and said its okay, calm down,” Flaherty said.  “I think a lot of seniors on other teams would say look at the freshman making a mistake and not try to help him out.”

Despite embracing his new leadership role, Hernandez cannot believe this is his last season of college baseball and accordingly has set his goals high.

“It is my last year in college baseball,” he said.  “In my first three years I never made it to a post-season regional.  My ultimate goal, and the team’s goal, is to get to Omaha [this June to play in the College World Series.]”

After four seasons and two schools, the veteran catcher has learned just about all there is to learn at the college level.  However, in order to get to Omaha, he will have to rely on his teaching and leadership abilities.  If Hernandez can successfully impart his wealth of knowledge onto his young teammates, then the 2006 Commodores could become the first ever Vanderbilt team to play in the College World Series.