Hector Heredia worked well under pressure in AAA, Mexico

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Hector Heredia 1989 Albuquerque Dukes baseball card

Albuquerque Dukes reliever Hector Heredia anchored the team's bullpen in 1988, coming in to games with the game on the line and having success, The Albuquerque Journal wrote that August.

For Heredia, in at least his sixth season of professional ball he didn't mind the pressure, he told The Journal.

"I've been in too many games in that situation to worry about it," Heredia told The Journal then. "All I concentrate on is getting the batter out. But I don't feel pressure."

Heredia spoke then in his second season at AAA with the Dodgers. He saw two more seasons at AAA and more in Mexico. He never saw the majors.

Heredia's career in the affiliated minors began in 1985, signed by the Dodgers as a free agent out of Mexico.

Before that, he played in Mexico with Monterrey. He pitched four years there. He went 3-7, with a 4.19 ERA and 13 saves in 1984.

With the Dodgers, he started at AA San Antonio. He saw three outings in 1985, before straining an elbow ligament. He returned to see 39 outings in 1986. He went 2-5, with a 3.29 ERA that second year.

For 1987, he moved up to AAA Albuquerque. He saw 50 games, three starts. He went 3-4, with a 4.22 ERA. He got into another 43 in relief at Albuquerque in 1988 and had a 2.51 ERA.

Heredia spent one more season at Albuquerque, in 1989. He saw 26 games in relief and went 2-3, with a 3.96 ERA.

That June, he spoke to The Journal about his progress and hopes going forward.

"I guess there just hasn't been an opportunity," Heredia told The Journal. "The Dodgers have great relievers. I pitched well, but I guess they pitched better."

Heredia moved to the Astros and AAA Tucson for 1990. He got into 34 games and had a 5.27 ERA. He then returned to Mexico. He's recorded as pitching there as late as 2001, playing for Torreon at age 41.

Hector Heredia 1989 Albuquerque Dukes baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,561
Made the Majors:1,442-31.6%
Never Made Majors:3,119-68.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:588
10+ Seasons in the Minors:361-X

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