Pitcher Xavier Hernandez was born Frances Xavier Hernandez in Port Arthur, Texas. He was graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, where he earned All-State pitching honors and led the team to the class 5A state title in 1983. Hernandez was drafted out of Southwestern Louisiana in the fourth round of the 1986 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and then moved to the Houston Astros in 1989. He remained with the Astros until 1993 when he was traded to the New York Yankees for pitcher Domingo Jean and infielder Andy Stankiewicz. At the time of the trade, Hernandez was 4-5 with nine saves and a 2.61 ERA.

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