Former All-Star Livan Hernandez files for bankruptcy
Livan Hernandez, a one-time World Series hero for the Florida Marlins who went on to pitch 17 years in the majors, has filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, according to court documents obtained Monday by Jose Lambiet of the Miami Herald.
According to Lambiet, the 42-year-old owes $1 million to multiple creditors, including major banks, along with several hundred thousand dollars in back taxes. Hernandez was reportedly declared to be worth less than $50,000 when he filed his papers.
Hernandez threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Marlins Park this past Opening Day. But he left the Miami area quickly following that appearance, per an April report from Lambiet, as creditors were looking to serve him with various lawsuits relating to money owed to former business associates, as well as missed child support payments.
Hernandez was a teenage star in his native Cuba, but defected from the communist country in 1995 and signed a four-year, $4.5-million contract with the Marlins. He achieved stardom in the 1997 season, when, as a 22-year-old rookie, he dominated during the playoffs and was named MVP of both the NLCS and World Series as the Marlins won their first championship.
Hernandez retired in 2012 after posting a 178-177 career record and 4.44 ERA over 3,189 innings with nine different franchises. He primarily played for the Marlins, San Francisco Giants, and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, making the All-Star team with the Expos in 2004 and the Nationals in 2005. He also appeared in a second World Series, with the Giants in 2002.
Per Lambiet, it's estimated that Hernandez earned a total of $53 million during his career in the majors.