'Do you remember 'El Dong-won'? Four minor league contracts in just nine months! Praise for his indomitable spirit in the MLB challenge'

*This content was translated by AI.

Eleizer Hernandez (31), a right-handed pitcher known as 'El Dong-won' ('Dong-won of LG') for his selfless fighting spirit during the 2024 fall playoffs, is receiving warm praise in his home country of Venezuela for his indomitable journey to survive in Major League Baseball.

Venezuelan sports outlet 'El Emergente' reported on the 18th (Korean time) that "Hernandez signed no fewer than four minor league contracts with the Atlanta Braves within nine months," adding, "Amidst this revolving-door pattern, he has been working his way back to the big leagues after enduring a two-year gap and numerous injuries."

To domestic fans, Hernandez remains a deeply moving foreign pitcher. Nicknamed 'Eli' by LG supporters, he appeared in all five games of the 2024 season's playoff series against KT Wiz, recording two saves and one hold with an ERA of 0.00 — an astonishing display of impenetrable pitching. Fans likened his willingness to take the mound regardless of whether he was starting or relieving for the team to the late Choi Dong-won, earning him the glorious nickname 'El Dong-won'.

This unique fighting spirit and perseverance were fully displayed even in his return process to the U.S. stage. 'El Emergente' highlighted Eli's brutal injury history from his MLB debut in 2018 through 2023. Including his time with the Miami Marlins, he was placed on the injured list (IL) nine times over five years, spending a total of 466 days (one year and 101 days) in hospitals and rehabilitation camps.

The reasons for his injuries were equally extraordinary. In 2018, he missed games due to a tooth infection and blisters on his fingers; in 2020, he was placed on the 60th-day IL because of latissimus dorsi strain. In 2021, after returning from an arm injury with five innings and one earned run allowed, he suffered a right quadriceps injury while running from third base to home plate, forcing him out for another two months.

But he never gave up. Eli joined the Atlanta Braves' 2026 spring training camp as an invited player. Despite failing to make the opening day roster, he successfully returned to the big leagues by late July. After being designated for assignment (DFA) three times and repeatedly entering free agency, he kept signing minor league contracts with Atlanta in an endless loop, ultimately securing his spot on the MLB mound.

His relentless determination led to a record that will go down in MLB history. In his first three games with Atlanta this season, Eli delivered remarkable performance with two wins and one save. The outlet reported: "Since the official save rule was introduced in 1969, Hernandez is only the 11th pitcher in MLB history to record two wins and one save in his first three appearances after joining a new team." Although currently assigned to Triple-A affiliate, his MLB stats stand at four games, two wins, no losses, one save, and an ERA of 2.45.

Finally, 'El Emergente' concluded: "This is the long and arduous journey Hernandez has walked to return to the stage he always wanted to come back to — the 'Big Show'." The outlet offered unreserved applause for his perseverance through countless injuries and releases.

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*This content was translated by AI.