ProfileHt.: 5'10" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: S / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
Farm director Alan Regier made an interesting decision in the spring, essentially demoting a handful of prospects in hopes they would enjoy a level of success that had previously eluded them. It paid dividends with Hernandez, along with outfielder Sal Sanchez and first baseman Micah Schnurstein. The undersized Hernandez performed well in what was his fourth taste of low Class A, and followed up on that by getting off to a solid start in the Dominican Winter League. The 21-year-old switch-hitter opened as a reserve for Estrellas but hit his way into regular playing time. His above-average arm is still what gets Hernandez noticed--though he threw out a pedestrian 29 percent of basestealers in 2007--but he has made strides at the plate, drawing more walks than strikeouts for the first time in his career. He has the bat control to put the ball in play and offers some gap power, but his bat will be tested as he climbs the ladder. His pitch-calling and handling of a pitching staff need improvement if he's to play in the majors. Hernandez has the potential to be a regular in the big leagues, but only if he continues to improve in all phases of the game.
Hernandez has mastered Rookie ball, hitting .323 over three seasons, but has struggled with the jump to full-season ball, hitting .241 in two stints in low Class A. He's a contact hitter with gap power who has been overmatched at times against quality breaking pitches. Despite his bat control, he needs to be more selective. His value as a switch-hitter is muted by his ongoing struggles from the right side of the plate, where he hit .196 with one extrabase hit in 97 at-bats last year, and he may become a full-time lefty swinger in the future. Hernandez hasn't gain upper-body strength as quickly as the White Sox would have liked. Like most catchers, he's a below-average runner. On defense, his calling card is a plus arm and a quick release. He threw out 33 percent of basestealers in 2006. His receiving isn't as advanced as his throwing. He sometimes takes his troubles at the plate with him onto the field, impacting his ability to work with pitchers. Patience will be required with his development, and he faces a critical season to show he can hit more advanced pitching.
After Hernandez handled the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2004, the White Sox promoted him to low Class A Kannapolis last year but the jump proved to be too much. He showed immaturity by losing composure at times, though he got himself back together after a demotion to the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Hernandez is a strong defensive catcher, using his plus arm and quick release to throw out 45 percent of basestealers last season. He still has the potential to grow into a force at the plate as well. He uses a simple approach to make solid contact from both sides of the plate. He's a better hitter from the left side but shows some raw power from the right side. At times, Hernandez can seem like his own worst enemy. He put too much pressure on himself early last season and wasn't able to snap out of his slump. His receiving and game-calling have lagged behind the rest of his defense. Hernandez should be more grounded this season than he was a year ago and could have a breakout season that gets him noticed as one of the top catching prospects in the game. He should have better results in low Class A this time around.
After Hernandez batted .296 with six homers in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2003, he was rewarded with a visa. He flashed tremendous potential in his first season in the United States, ranking second in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in batting and throwing out basestealers (33 percent). Though he's slightly built, Hernandez is a skilled switch-hitter with a strong arm. He's solid from both sides of the plate and has surprising power for his size. He has the ability to make adjustments, which should keep him out of slumps. His receiving, blocking and game-calling also earn praise. Hernandez needs polish behind the plate. Chicago is trying to get him to quicken his release. He sometimes chases bad pitches, something more advanced pitchers can exploit more easily. The White Sox believe Hernandez can be an all-star catcher, something they haven't had since 1991 (Carlton Fisk) and something they've never developed on their own. He's ready for a full season in low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
In a system bereft of bona fide catching prospects, the White Sox aggressively assigned the 19-year-old Hernandez to low Class A out of spring training. He hit .222, which wasn't a surprise given his lack of experience, but he compounded his problems by letting his offensive struggles affect his defense. When he joined Great Falls in June, he improved his mental approach and became one of the league's best hitters and arguably its best defensive catcher. Hernandez is a hungry hitter with good raw power. He's aggressive and lets his hands fly through the zone, making sharp contact from both sides of the plate. He makes better contact and has more pop from the left side. He's a predominantly pull hitter and needs to improve his plate discipline, though he has good pitch recognition. Like most catchers, he's a below-average runner. Hernandez has a plus arm and threw out 45 percent of basestealers in the PL. His receiving and game-calling skills should improve with time. He's a bit high-strung and must learn not to press.
Few catchers put forth better defensive showings than Hernandez, who displayed a knack for handling pitchers and calling games that belied his 18 years of age. He also receives and blocks balls well. Hernandez needs to work on his transfer and release, but his arm is strong enough to control the running game despite those inefficiencies. He ranked second among Appy regulars by erasing 33 percent of basestealers. Hernandez' abilities at the plate make his ability to play behind it even more appealing. He began the year batting eighth in Bristol's lineup and finished in the No. 3 hole--and also second in the league batting race at .326. He crushes pitches thrown in the strike zone and sometimes will chase after bad offerings, but often makes adjustments in his next at-bat. "He has a very good swing from both sides," Kendall said. "He's very aggressive, but he has very good barrel accuracy."
Scouting Reports
After Hernandez batted .296 with six homers in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2003, he was rewarded with a visa. He flashed tremendous potential in his first season in the United States, ranking second in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in batting and throwing out basestealers (33 percent). Though he's slightly built, Hernandez is a skilled switch-hitter with a strong arm. He's solid from both sides of the plate and has surprising power for his size. He has the ability to make adjustments, which should keep him out of slumps. His receiving, blocking and game-calling also earn praise. Hernandez needs polish behind the plate. Chicago is trying to get him to quicken his release. He sometimes chases bad pitches, something more advanced pitchers can exploit more easily. The White Sox believe Hernandez can be an all-star catcher, something they haven't had since 1991 (Carlton Fisk) and something they've never developed on their own. He's ready for a full season in low Class A.
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