The legend of Livan

FORT MYERS, FLA. — Three days into Twins camp, Livan Hernandez said he was done talking about Fidel Castro and done telling the story of how he defected from Cuba in the hush of night.

"I tell it a thousand times," Hernandez said. "Go to Google. You find it there."

He sounded half-annoyed and half-playful.

Of course, he was right.

A quick search revealed details of Hernandez secretly coordinating an escape with Miami-based agent Joe Cubas while visiting Mexico in 1995, with the Cuban national team.

A woman approaches Hernandez as he leaves Monterrey stadium. He opens her book to sign an autograph and finds a picture of Cubas. She hands him a phone number.

At 1 a.m., he leaves his hotel, holding a suitcase and his passport.

He sprints across the street, narrowly dodging traffic, and jumps into Cubas' car with tears streaming down his face.

Thirteen years later, Hernandez has landed with the Twins, a well-traveled veteran among a host of young teammates.

If they want to know his story, they will have to Google it.

Some parts he won't retell.

• • •

Hernandez made $5 per day, pitching for Castro's beloved national team. After defecting, he had his choice of teams, and the Florida Marlins got him with a $2.5 million signing bonus.

"I love him," said Gary Hughes, a Cubs executive who was with the Marlins when they signed Hernandez. "I think he's a brilliant, brilliant pitcher."

Hughes compared Hernandez's on-mound acumen with Greg Maddux because both can record outs without overpowering hitters.

In 1997, Hernandez had a blistering fastball to go with his curve as he led the Marlins to the World Series title. A lasting memory from that October is Hernandez infuriating the Braves by getting called third strikes from umpire Eric Gregg with fastballs off the plate.

By last season, Hernandez's fastball had lost much of its zip. But there he was, in Game 3 of the NL division series, giving up only one run in six innings as Arizona eliminated Hughes' Cubs.

Hernandez has pitched at least 199 2/3 innings in 10 consecutive seasons, and Hughes said he expects him to make a smooth transition after 12 years spent exclusively in the National League.

"I think American League hitters are going to have a harder time adjusting to him than he is to them," Hughes said. "People who spend the whole time looking at the radar gun are going to be surprised."

• • •

Hernandez celebrated his 33rd birthday Wednesday.

His half-brother, Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez, is listed at age 43 on baseballreference.com after being found to be four years older than he claimed when he defected.

Baseball insiders tend to believe Livan's listed age more than they ever did El Duque's.

They still remember Livan's baby face getting pudgier in 1996, as he gained 30 pounds during his first minor league season.

By 1997, he practically owned Miami. As a Marlins rookie, he was the MVP both of the National League Championship Series and the World Series.

"That year, I don't believe it," Hernandez said. "I'm too young. It's crazy. Everybody recognizes you on the street. I'm eating for free for one month in the restaurants in Miami.

"It's nice, something great, and I'm 21 years old."

Hernandez developed a reputation as a workhorse and kept popping up on the big stage.

After helping the Giants reach the 2002 World Series, he was the losing pitcher in Game 7, against the Angels.

The Giants traded him to Montreal, which moved to Washington, and after getting the 2005 Opening Day start, Hernandez threw the first pitch in Nationals history.

A two-time All-Star, Hernandez keeps finding himself on overachieving teams. Maybe that's no coincidence.

That 2005 Nationals team was supposed to be awful but entered the All-Star break in first place, six games ahead of Atlanta, before stumbling down the stretch.

"Listen," he said, "I play last year [in Arizona] on the youngest team in baseball.

"We made the playoffs, and we beat the Cubs, and that didn't surprise me.

"Because it's not about names. It's about who plays better."

For a Twins team that just lost Torii Hunter and Johan Santana, that's a pleasant thought.

• • •

As a young boy, Hernandez used to sleep with his baseball glove. His father, Arnaldo, was a pitcher for the Cuban national team who once played all nine positions in the same game.

To pursue his own baseball dreams, Hernandez fled Cuba. Castro never let him return, not even to see Arnaldo before his death five years ago.

"That is something difficult," Hernandez said. "I'm never going to appreciate that."

This is why Hernandez doesn't bask in his story. His freedom came with a price.

When news of Castro's resignation came Tuesday, Hernandez cautioned that only time will tell. True happiness won't come until Cuba is free.

This year, Hernandez will apply to become a U.S. citizen. He has an American-born daughter.

"I wake up every day and give thanks to God," he said.

Including his one-year, $5 million contract with the Twins, Hernandez has racked up more than $50 million in career earnings, while going 134-128.

He owns a professional women's volleyball team in Puerto Rico, and teammates say he has turned himself into a scratch golfer.

His mother and sister live in the United States, but he still has relatives in Cuba that he hasn't seen in 13 years.

"The day is coming," Hernandez said. "I don't know when, but it's coming."