| Jason Hernandez | |
| Fullname: | Jason Hernandez |
| Birth Date: | 26 August 1983 |
| Birth Place: | New York, New York, United States |
| Position: | Defender |
| Collegeyears1: | 2001–2004 |
| College1: | Seton Hall Pirates |
| Years1: | 2005 |
| Clubs1: | MetroStars |
| Caps1: | 3 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2006–2007 |
| Clubs2: | Chivas USA |
| Caps2: | 50 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2008–2014 |
| Clubs3: | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Caps3: | 165 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs4: | New York City FC |
| Caps4: | 57 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs5: | Toronto FC |
| Caps5: | 18 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs6: | → Toronto FC II (loan) |
| Caps6: | 2 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 295 |
| Totalgoals: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2016 |
| Nationalteam1: | Puerto Rico |
| Nationalcaps1: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
Jason Hernandez (born August 26, 1983) is former professional soccer player who is currently the general manager of Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. He previously played for the Puerto Rico national team as a defender.
Hernandez played prep soccer at Paramus Catholic High School.[1]
Hernandez played college soccer at Seton Hall University from 2001 to 2004, and captained the team in his final two seasons. He was also named Second Team ALL-BIG EAST in 2004.[2]
Hernandez was selected by the MetroStars with the sixth pick in the first round of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft and signed a developmental contract with the team for the 2005 season.[3] After not playing a minute in the club's first 29 league games, he made his debut against Chicago on October 5, 2005. He started the last three games of the regular season, as well as both games in the playoffs.[4]
Hernandez was traded to Chivas USA in a trade that allowed the MetroStars to move up to the first selection of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft and select Marvell Wynne.[5]
In his initial campaign with Chivas, Hernandez went on to appear in 29 league matches, including 24 starts. During the 2007 season Hernandez saw his role reduced as he appeared in 21 league matches, starting only nine. He started three of the club's four playoff matches during his two-year stint at the Los Angeles-based club.[6]
Hernandez was picked up by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft.[7] He made his debut on April 3, 2008, starting against LA Galaxy.[8]
Hernandez would play for the club through the 2014 season, and would captain the team multiple times. His 160 games started and 13,859 minutes played placed him third all time in both categories for the club.
Hernandez was selected by New York City FC as the 6th pick in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft.[9] He would start in their first ever MLS game, a 1–1 draw with Orlando City SC on March 8, 2015.[10]
After the signing of Italian legend Andrea Pirlo in July 2015, Hernandez changed his number from 21 to 2 to honor his boyhood idol, New York Yankees legendary shortstop Derek Jeter. He was not retained following the 2016 season.[11]
Hernandez was signed by Toronto FC in March 2017.[12] He made his Toronto FC debut and his first start of the season on May 6, 2017, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win against the Seattle Sounders FC.[13]
Hernandez was re-signed by Toronto FC on April 13, 2018,.[14] He was released at the end of the 2018 season following the expiration of his contract.[15]
Hernandez announced his retirement from professional football on April 2, 2019, and that he would be joining Toronto's front office as Manager of Player Engagement.[16]
Hernandez was named General Manager of Toronto FC on June 27, 2023.[17]
Hernandez was born in the United States to parents of Puerto Rican descent. In January 2009, he was called for a training camp with the United States, but he did not appear in a match for the team.[18] Eligible for Puerto Rico through his parents, he made his international debut with the team in March 2016 during a Caribbean Cup qualifier against Guyana.[19]
After retiring as a professional player in April 2019, he became Toronto FC's Manager of Player Engagement.[16] He later became the team's Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel and Engagement Strategy in 2021, before being promoted to General Manager in June 2023.[20]
| Season | League | Playoffs | National cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| MetroStars | 2005 | Major League Soccer | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Chivas USA | 2006 | Major League Soccer | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2007 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 50 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | |||
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2008 | Major League Soccer | 28 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2009 | 16 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |||||
| 2010 | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | ||||
| 2011 | 28 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |||||
| 2012 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | ||||
| 2013 | 21 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||||
| 2014 | 20 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 165 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 176 | 0 | |||
| New York City FC | 2015 | Major League Soccer | 26 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| 2016 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | |||
| Toronto FC | 2017 | Major League Soccer | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | 10 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |||
| Toronto FC II (loan) | 2017 | USL | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 295 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 316 | 0 | |||
| Puerto Rico | 2016 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|