Braves starter Félix Hernández will sit out the 2020 season due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to his agent Wilfredo Polidor of Octagon Sports. Other MLB players to have opted out of the 2020 season are: Mike Leake, Joe Ross, Tyson Ross, Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman, Welington Castillo, and David Price.
Hernández, 34, inked a minor league contract with the Braves in January which would pay him a $1 million salary if he made the major league roster. The veteran right-hander has had it rough in his 30’s, posting an aggregate 4.89 ERA with 382 strikeouts and 175 walks over 467 1/3 innings since 2016. Prior to the league shutting down in March, he was vying for a spot at the back of the starting rotation.
In May, Hernández said that he wanted to reach certain career milestones -- 200 wins and 3,000 strikeouts -- then retire. He is currently at 169 wins and 2,524 strikeouts.
Now that Hernández will sit out the 2020 season, the No. 5 spot in the rotation appears to be a battle between Kyle Wright and Sean Newcomb.
