Guardians Pitcher Carlos Hernández Admits He Was Texting When Career-Threatening Crash Occurred

Cleveland Guardians reliever Carlos Hernández told reporters Tuesday that he was texting while driving when he crashed his car in Venezuela on January 11, causing injuries that kept him out of the major leagues for the entire first half of the 2026 season.

The revelation came following Hernández's addition to the Guardians' 40-man roster as part of September roster expansion. According to the Associated Press, Hernández spoke to reporters while sitting in the Guardians' dugout during batting practice, saying he hoped his story would be a warning to others.

"I want it to serve as a reminder not to drive and text," he said. "The accident happened right when I was texting in the middle of driving and it was very intense. It was very serious injuries. I was really scared, but I hope this serves as a reminder not to drive and text."

Hernández was driving with his brother-in-law and a good friend when he became distracted. His injuries reportedly included a broken right femur, a sprained ankle, a broken left arm, and a cut into his arm that was described as almost to the bone.

He spoke about what his survival meant to him.

"I feel like I'm here just as a testament of God's will," Hernandez said through an interpreter. "Otherwise, there's no way to explain what has happened to me for normal words."

Hernández has been with the Guardians since July of last year, when the organization claimed him off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. He made five appearances for the major league club before the crash, allowing three earned runs in seven innings. The Guardians re-signed him to a minor-league contract in November, two months before the accident.

He opened the 2026 season on the injured list and began a rehab assignment in July with Triple-A Columbus, where he holds a 5.40 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings. His selection to the 40-man roster Tuesday marked his first return to the organization's active structure since the crash.