Hernandez should enjoy making Sovereign Bank Stadium his home park. In three years in the Atlantic League that have taken him to The Vault for a combined 20 career games, Hernandez has batted .416 with seven home runs, six doubles, a triple, 24 RBI, and 15 runs scored in York as an opposing player. He had a night to remember in the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game at Sovereign Bank Stadium as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a pair of RBI, and two runs scored, taking home the Stephen R. Shilling Award as the game’s Most Valuable Player. Hernandez even kicked off his 2011 season with a memorable moment inside of York’s friendly confines, blasting a grand slam home run in the Fan Fest exhibition game as a member of the United States Military All-Stars. Hernandez’ older brother Johnny, an Atlantic League veteran himself, served in the Navy and made two tours of duty in Iraq, a connection that landed Michael on the field in camouflage that day.

Hernandez is a career .293 hitter in the Atlantic League. The Brooklyn native hit .302 with 11 home runs for Newark in 2009, and led Somerset with a .303 average in 2010 while clubbing 15 long balls. Last season, the 28-year-old hit nine more home runs and batted .272, including .295 from the beginning of June through the remainder of the season.

A product of Oklahoma State University, Hernandez began his pro career in the Detroit Tigers organization in 2006, and mashed a career-best 24 homers between Lakeland and Erie in his second pro season in 2007. Hernandez also played in the New York Mets organization in 2008.