Ramon Hernandez stood in the clubhouse and bopped his head to the beat of a celebratory rap medley that filled the air with a resounding timbre.
And so far this season, the catcher has let the barrell of the bat hum a very distinct tune, and has become the Baltimore Orioles? most consistent offensive player.
Hernandez is known as a defensive specialist who works well with young pitchers. In the past he would provide an occasional hit, but now he is moving up in the Orioles? lineup.
Hernandez batted ninth on Opening Day, slowly crept up to the sixth spot, and he may even climb higher if he continues to crush the ball. In his first 17 games, he hit .377 with two home runs, 14 RBIs and five doubles. Going into this season, his major league career average was .262 in 805 games.
Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said he would continue to toy with the idea of hitting Hernandez second in the order.
“Right now, I am just staying aggressive at the plate and looking for the right pitch that I want to hit,” said Hernandez, who batted a career-high .290 with 12 homers, 19 doubles and 58 RBI in 99 games last season for the San Diego Padres.
Said Perlozzo: “I?d probably have to say his bat speed is much better than what it was in the offseason. He is getting in a groove, and he handles everything very well.”
Hernandez hit just .167 (6 for 36) in spring training with one RBI in 15 games.
“I concentrated on working more with our young pitchers,” Hernandez said of his spring. “Now I am working hard take one bat at a time try to do my part to contributeto the team. I?m just in the zone right now and you can?t really explain it.”
Added Hernandez: “The games during the spring don?t mean anything at all. Now you?re playing hard and trying to compete for a division title.”
Reliever Sendy Rleal, a 25-year-old newcomer to the Orioles roster, has even noticed the power Hernandez can produce during batting practice.
“We are all really motivated right now when we see Ramon step up to the plate,” Rleal said. “Sometimes I tell him to tone it down a bit in practice and save some of that offense for a real game. That?s when we need him to swing the bat well.”
Orioles left-hander Erik Bedard, who is 4-0 with a 2.77 ERA, agreed.
“Even if I don?t have my usual command, I have a guy in the lineup that can get the offense rolling,” Bedard said of Hernandez. “I can come and and throw a few strikes, and he can follow up with a great hit to give us some momentum. It?s a great combination.”
THE HERNANDEZ FILE
Team: Orioles
Position: Catcher
Did you know? In 2005, he batted .350 in September and hit safely in 15 of 22 games with five home runs and 20 RBI through the end of the season … Was named MVP of the Carribbean World Series after leading Venezuela to the title over the Domincan Republic this winter … Threw out 25.7 percent (18 of 70) of runners attempting to steal … For his career, has thrown out 25.2 percent (142 of 563) of runners attempting to steal.
