Position: LHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 12/31/1997
Country: Dominican Republic
Signed: International Free Agent, 2016 (Dodgers)
How Acquired: Rule 5 Draft (from Dodgers)
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Pirates claimed Hernandez from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 draft. Despite the fact that he signed back in 2016, he doesn’t have that much of a track record. He spent three years at rookie levels, then missed all of 2019 with some sort of injury and all of 2020 due to the pandemic. He spent 2021-22 in class A and AA, with mostly but not uniformly good results. He’s never made any top prospect lists. Hernandez has generally had high K rates, mainly due to his slider. His fastball velocity is in the 95 mph range and he’s reached 100.
2016-20
Over his first five years, Hernandez saw very limited action. He spent two years in the DSL, then one in rookie ball. He made significant progress in rookie ball when he moved to relief. Then he missed 2019 with an unknown injury and 2020 due to the pandemic.
2021-22
In 2021, Hernandez pitched in low A through the beginning of August, then moved up to high A. He wasn’t all that effective at the lower level, although the main issue was a bad month of May. The fact that he was in the high-offense California League probably didn’t help. He was more effective after moving up. On the season he had a huge platoon split, allowing an .804 OPS to right-handed hitters and .500 to left-handed hitters and he fanned a dozen batters per nine innings at both levels.
In 2022, the Dodgers sent Hernandez back to high A, then in late May moved him up to AA. He pitched well at both levels, although he had some gopher ball problems in AA, giving up one every five and a half innings. This time he didn’t have a platoon split.
2023
The Pirates selected Hernandez in the Rule 5 draft after the 2022 season, no doubt to address their lack of left-handed pitching. He made it through the season and now can be optioned, or simply stay in the majors. He was actually one of the team’s best relievers in the first half of the season, posting a 2.36 ERA. His control was much better than expected, as he walked only six in 27.1 IP and had a 1.02 WHIP. In June, Hernandez went on the injured list with a calf strain; he was out until early July, then went on rehab to Indianapolis. He returned to the Pirates late in the month and wasn’t nearly as effective, posting a 7.71 ERA and 1.76 WHIP, with 16 walks in 23.1 IP. For the season, he did strike out 62 in 50.2 IP. Oddly, for a pitcher who relies heavily on a slider, Hernandez had a reverse platoon split.
The Pirates designated Hernandez for assignment in June 2024.
Stats
Transactions
May 12, 2016: Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent.
December 7, 2022: Selected from the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Rule 5 draft.
June 11, 2024: Designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates.