Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50
The son of Fernando Hernandez, who pitched in two games for the 1997 Tigers, Jonathan was born in Memphis while his dad was in Double-A but grew up in the Dominican Republic. Signed for $300,000 in January 2013, he made an initial impression with his advanced feel for polish for a teenager. His velocity jumped once he got to full-season ball in 2016 and he now has some of the best pure stuff in the system, though he's still learning to harness it.
After sitting around 90 mph with sink on his fastball earlier in his career, Hernandez now deals at 93-97 mph and can reach 99, getting groundouts with his two-seamer and throwing his four-seamer by hitters up in the strike zone. His slider has gotten quicker as well and now grades as a plus pitch that can lock up right-handers, and he has an effective curveball as well. His changeup has also improved, with its tumble helping him handle left-handers, though it can get a bit firm at times.
To become a mid-rotation starter, Hernandez will need to pair his present stuff with his previous control and command. He got knocked around in Double-A in the second half of 2018 because he couldn't locate his pitches as well as he needed to. He has a history of starting slow and then adjusting to each new level, so the Rangers are eager to see how he fares in '19. Statcast - Pitching Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 332 46 3 6.5 86.2 6.1 .253 .416 .317 .345 .391 30.4 24.4 16.7 ALL 332 46 3 6.5 86.2 6.1 .253 .416 .317 .345 .391 30.4 24.4 16.7 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 10/29/2019 RHP Jonathan Hernandez assigned to Aguilas Cibaenas. 08/20/2019 Texas Rangers recalled RHP Jonathan Hernandez from Frisco RoughRiders. 07/25/2019 Jonathan Hernandez roster status changed by Frisco RoughRiders. 07/14/2019 Frisco RoughRiders placed RHP Jonathan Hernandez on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 11, 2019. 03/08/2019 Texas Rangers optioned RHP Jonathan Hernandez to Frisco RoughRiders. 10/02/2018 Texas Rangers recalled Jonathan Hernandez from Frisco RoughRiders. 08/29/2018 Frisco RoughRiders placed RHP Jonathan Hernandez on the 7-day disabled list. 06/11/2018 RHP Jonathan Hernandez assigned to Frisco RoughRiders from Down East Wood Ducks. 03/09/2018 Texas Rangers optioned RHP Jonathan Hernandez to Down East Wood Ducks. 11/20/2017 Texas Rangers selected the contract of Jonathan Hernandez from Down East Wood Ducks. 05/02/2017 Hickory Crawdads activated RHP Jonathan Hernandez from the temporarily inactive list. 04/27/2017 Hickory Crawdads placed RHP Jonathan Hernandez on the temporarily inactive list. 03/29/2016 RHP Jonathan Hernandez assigned to Hickory Crawdads from AZL Rangers. 06/21/2015 RHP Jonathan Hernandez assigned to AZL Rangers. 01/30/2013 Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Jonathan Hernandez to a minor league contract.
