Position: RHP
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 185 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 09/21/2003
Country: Dominican Republic
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2021
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Minor League Free Agency: 2027
Options Left: 3
Overview
Hernandez was born in New York but signed out of the Dominican. His fastball sits at 91-95 mph. According to Statcast, he throws a lot of secondary pitches: a cutter, curve, slider and change.
2021-22
In his 2021 DSL debut, Hernandez served as a starter and probably pitched a lot better than his 7.18 ERA, as he was plagued by an extremely low strand rate. His WHIP (1.44) wasn’t horrible and he had a 10.6 K/9. The Pirates must have believed he did well enough, as he moved up to the FCL in 2022, pitching mostly in relief. He missed a lot of bats there, with a 14.6 K/9, but he also had a 6.2 BB/9. The control got somewhat better after his first few outings; he walked seven in his first four and a third innings and seven in his next 16. The Pirates moved him up to Bradenton near the end of the season and he made three relief appearances.
2023-24
In 2023, Hernandez opened at Bradenton, but after two relief appearances he went on the injured list and missed three months. He made five rehab appearances in the FCL, then appeared in relief twice for the Marauders at the end of the season. On the year, he walked 20 in 16.2 IP, but given the injury it’s hard to say whether that means anything.
The Pirates sent Hernandez back to Bradenton in 2024 and he pitched in relief, typically about two innings at a time. He only got into 23 games, as the team used him only once a week and he also missed a month early. He continued to struggle with wildness, walking 56 in 57 innings and also hitting 13. Although he struck out 69, he wasn’t that hard to hit, allowing 54 hits for a WHIP of 1.93. His ERA was 7.11.
Stats
Transactions
January 15, 2021: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.