FIU pitching recruit’s high leg kick is reminiscent of his famous father

He doesn’t do it all the time, but FIU recruit Orlando “Orly” Hernandez knows how to lift his left knee up by his face and then fire a fastball toward home plate.

It’s a pitching style the young right-hander copied from a familiar source: his father, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, who did a lot of winning during his career.

Hernandez won a gold medal for his native Cuba in 1992 and then came out on top in four World Series — three with the New York Yankees and one with the Chicago White Sox. He was also the MVP of the 1999 American League Championship Series.

His brother, Livan Hernandez, was the MVP of the 1997 World Series, leading the Marlins to the title that year. A two-time All-Star, Livan actually won more career games than El Duque (178 to 90).

Orly Hernandez, who wore Livan’s No. 51 at Florida Christian because his father’s 26 wasn’t available, initially committed to the University of Miami. He then switched because he said he “saw a better opportunity” at FIU.

“When he became available, it was a no-brainer,” FIU coach Mervyl Melendez said of the 18-year-old Hernandez. “[Orly] throws a lot of strikes, and he has someone in his own home he can emulate.

“Duque didn’t just rely on stuff. He was very smart, and that’s a big part of pitching.”

Orly Hernandez was also a hitter in high school, but he will focus strictly on pitching at FIU, and that concentration should help him, Melendez said.

Hernandez had an excellent career at Florida Christian, going 19-5 in three years. He went 6-2 with a 2.31 ERA as a freshman and 5-2, 2.55 as a sophomore. His best year came as a junior, when he went 8-1 with a 1.87 ERA, 84 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 52.1 innings.

As a senior, Hernandez had a strained throwing shoulder and did not pitch.

“I had thrown a bullpen session,” Hernandez said of his recovery in March. “I was ready to pitch when everything happened [the coronavirus stopped play].”

Hernandez said his plan at FIU includes studying criminal justice, a path inspired by his love for the “Law & Order” TV series. In the future, Hernandez said he can see himself as a lawyer or working in baseball in some capacity.

Chris Brigman, Florida Christian’s coach, said Hernandez is a fierce competitor.

“He’s a combination of his dad and his uncle,” Brigman said of Hernandez, who enrolled at Florida Christian in the sixth grade and remained there for the rest of his prep career. “He is fiery and will stare down the opposing dugout like Livan, and he has that high knee lift like his dad.

“But, to us, he was the kid who kept everyone loose. Around his teammates, he always had a smile on his face.”

THIS AND THAT

• Ex-FIU quarterback James Morgan, drafted in the fourth round by the New York Jets in April, figures to be a third-stringer this year behind starter Sam Darnold and Joe Flacco. Flacco, the starting quarterback when the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl a little over seven years ago, could be a great mentor for Morgan.
• For the Class of 2021, FIU’s football program had reportedly had offers to three quarterbacks, but Billy Edwards of Virginia committed to Old Dominion; Deltona’s Jacory Jordan committed to Bowling Green; and North Carolina’s Nate Hampton committed to Liberty.