Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Splitter: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Hernandez began his college career at Miami Dade, pitching two years at the JC level before moving on to be a part of the University of Miami rotation. He missed bats, but with inconsistent command, something that continued in his first year of pro ball after the Braves took him in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft. He spent the past year with High-A Rome, finishing second in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts (127) and would have been among the leaders in batting average against (.193), ERA (3.57) and K/9 (11.1) had he thrown enough innings to qualify.

A bit undersized at 5-foot-10, Hernandez does have some traits that give him a chance to start. Pitching last year at 21, he flashed an effective four-pitch mix. His fastball is an average offering which sat around 93 mph and touched 97, a tick more than in college, and it does miss some bats with good riding life to it. His slider is his go-to, a low-80s breaker that elicited a 40 percent miss rate according to Synergy. He has an upper-70s curve that he doesn't throw as often, and he started showing signs of a solid splitter, though he's still getting the feel for it.

The Braves think there's more upside to tap into given that Hernandez really didn't pitch much until he got to Miami Dade. He'll have to find the strike zone a lot more consistently after walking 5.9 per nine in his first full year to have any chance of starting, though that fastball-slider combination could work really well in a relief role.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

After two years at the junior college level, pitching for Miami Dade, Hernandez headed to the University of Miami rather than sign with the Reds as a Day 3 draftee in 2023. He had an inconsistent season pitching in the Hurricanes' weekend rotation, but the Braves liked his arsenal enough to take him in the fourth round of the Draft, then sent him out to get his professional feet wet with a few innings with Single-A Augusta and High-A Rome. 

While he's just 5-foot-10, Hernandez could have the chance to be a left-handed starter thanks to a robust repertoire. At Miami, he had four pitches he could go to, though he might simplify it a bit at the next level. He has an average fastball that averaged just over 92 mph in 2024, topping out at 95 mph. His feel to spin breaking stuff really supports his heater, with his low-80s slider that missed bats at a 43-percent rate last year perhaps being the focal point in pro ball. He had a distinct upper-70s curve that missed bats too, though he didn't command it as well. HIs firm changeup is his fourth pitch.

For Hernandez to stick as a starter, he'll have to improve that offspeed offering and cut down on the walks. Though he's undersized, he's strong and has the chance to be a durable innings-eater, though there is some reliever risk, with the chance of his breaking stuff really playing well out of the pen should that move be necessary.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Hernandez spent two years at Miami Dade, a two-year college in Florida, getting drafted by the Reds late on Day 3 of the 2023 Draft. Rather than entertain signing, he moved on to the University of Miami and spent last spring in the Hurricanes' weekend rotation, with uneven results. The Braves, never ones to shy away from trying to develop pitching from all quadrants, took him in the fourth round and went under-slot to sign him for $472,500.

An undersized left-hander at 5-foot-10, Hernandez does have the chance to have a starter's repertoire. His fastball is typically in the 92-94 mph range, but it's his feel to spin to that stands out more than anything else. He has both a low-80s slider and distinct upper-70s curve, with the former being his best pitch. Both miss a fair amount of bats, but he lands the harder breaker in the zone more consistently. He does have a changeup, but it's too firm and it's clearly his fourth offering.

Hernandez will need to work on that offspeed offering and his overall command -- he walked 4.6 per nine in 2024 -- for him to have the chance to start long-term. He's strong and compact, with the chance to be durable if those things develop, though his breaking stuff could land him in the bullpen, where the command won't be as much of an issue.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/31/2025	LHP Herick Hernandez assigned to Rome Emperors from FCL Braves.
	09/10/2024	LHP Herick Hernandez assigned to FCL Braves from Rome Emperors.
	09/03/2024	LHP Herick Hernandez assigned to Rome Emperors from Augusta GreenJackets.
	08/28/2024	LHP Herick Hernandez assigned to Augusta GreenJackets from FCL Braves.
	08/05/2024	LHP Herick Hernandez assigned to FCL Braves.
	07/23/2024	Atlanta Braves signed LHP Herick Hernandez.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated LHP Herick Hernandez.
	03/13/2024	LHP Herick Hernandez assigned to Miami Hurricanes.
	05/09/2023	LHP Herick Hernandez and assigned to College Workout.
	05/09/2022	College Workout activated LHP Herick Hernandez.
	05/09/2022	OF Herick Hernandez and assigned to College Workout.