Marlins audition for Gaby Hernandez

Gaby Hernandez, who grew up in South Dade as a Marlins fan, will make a brief audition today for Florida in its exhibition opener against UM.

BY CLARK SPENCER

cspencer@MiamiHerald.com

BARBARA P. FERNANDEZ

Gaby Hernandez

JUPITER - Gaby Hernandez was at his parents' South Dade home watching an NFL game in December 2005 when the phone rang. It was a friend calling to ask him about the trade.

Uh, trade? Nobody told Hernandez about any trade.

There it was, though, scrolling across the ESPN ticker: The Florida Marlins trade catcher Paul Lo Duca to the New York Mets for right-handed pitcher Gaby Hernandez and outfielder Dante Brinkley.

The deal was one of the final moves in the Great Marlins Roster Purge of 2005, a so-called ''market correction'' in which the nucleus of the team was destroyed systematically in order that payroll be shredded to the lowest figure in the majors.

Though the Marlins reaped instant profits with a smattering of the youngsters the team got in return for the likes of such players as Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Carlos Delgado and Juan Pierre, several others remained on the back burner, gaining seasoning in the minors.

One of those, Hernandez, is scheduled to give a brief audition this afternoon when the Marlins open exhibition play in their annual spring contest against the University of Miami at Roger Dean Stadium.

''I know some of their guys,'' said Hernandez, a 20-year-old right-hander who was born and raised in Miami, starred at Belen Jesuit High and was taken by the Mets in the third round of the 2004 draft. ``I told them to take it easy on me.''

Hernandez isn't the only pitching prospect the Marlins plan on throwing out against the Hurricanes for the 3 p.m. game. Palm Beach Gardens right-hander Chris Volstad, the Marlins' top draft pick in 2005, is scheduled to start. He'll be followed by the Marlins' three other '05 first-rounders.

HIGHLY REGARDED

Out of all of them, though, some Marlins player development officials believe Hernandez might be the closest to major-league ready and plan to start him out at Double A Carolina. At the time the Marlins obtained him, Baseball America had Hernandez ranked as the Mets' top pitching prospect and the team's No. 3 prospect overall.

Had the Mets not traded him, it is believed he would be contending for a spot on what is widely regarded to be a suspect starting staff, led by 40-somethings Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez, and 35-year-old Pedro Martinez. As a Marlin, Gaby Hernandez might have to wait his turn behind a wall of young talent.

He said he now feels ready to pitch in the majors.

''Last year, I knew I wasn't close,'' said Hernandez, who recently added a cutter to go with a good fastball and changeup.

Hernandez went 9-7 with a 3.68 ERA at Single A Jupiter last season. He pitched a no-hitter with the Mets' Single A affiliate in 2005.

''He works his tail off,'' said Wayne Rosenthal, who was the Marlins' pitching coach in 2003 when the team won the World Series and is now their roving minor-league pitching instructor. ``And one thing about him, he never wants the ball taken away from him.''

FAMILY TIES

Hernandez comes from a baseball family. An uncle was a minor-leaguer for the Detroit Tigers, and his father is the baseball coach at Doral Academy.

Hernandez said he grew up a Marlins fan and attended two 1997 World Series games.

That's why, when he found out the Marlins had traded for him, he said he was ``excited as hell.''

•  Notes: Manager Fredi Gonzalez isn't cutting the Hurricanes any breaks. He plans on sending out his ''A'' lineup, with Miguel Cabrera serving as designated hitter and Aaron Boone starting at third base. The lineup is expected to go as follows: 1. Hanley Ramirez, shortstop; 2. Dan Uggla, second base; 3. Cabrera, DH; 4. Josh Willingham, left field; 5. Mike Jacobs, first base; 6. Boone, third base; 7. Jeremy Hermida, right field; 8. Miguel Olivo, catcher; 9. Reggie Abercrombie, center field. . . . Starting pitcher Josh Johnson (sore right biceps) did not try to throw again Monday. Gonzalez said it's ''doubtful'' he'll be on the Opening Day roster.