THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL August 13: Orlando Hernandez sets Yankees rookie record with 13 Ks

Orlando Hernandez, the seasoned Cuban baseball veteran who signed with the Yankees as an international free agent in 1978, struck out 13 batters in a 2-0 win against the Texas Rangers at The Stadium on this day in baseball, August 13, 1998.

Hernandez, then 32 years old (or likely more, considering how Cuban free agents often fudged their birth dates), joined the Yankees in midseason and immediately made his mark on a top-notch starting staff that included David Cone, Andy Pettitte, David Wells and Japanese import Hideki Irabu.

The righty with the funky, high-kick delivery nicknamed “El Duque” — the Duke — whiffed 13 in just eight innings of a home game, breaking a 30-year-old Yankees rookie record set by Stan Bahnsen, who went on to win the 1968 American League Rookie of the Year.

Duque finished the season with a stellar 12-4 record, and his 3.13 ERA led all Yankees starters. Hernandez came in fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, though he topped off his 1978 season with a 2-0 record in the postseason, giving up just one run 14 innings and earning a World Series ring.

Also on this day: Another rookie made a huge splash on this day in 2018 when 20-year-old Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna led off both games of a doubleheader against the Marlins with a home run.

Only three other players   — Hall of Famers Harry Hooper (in 1913) and Rickey Henderson (in 1993), and Brady Anderson in 1999 — accomplished the same feat. Acuna would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors in 2018.