Cristian Hernandez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #20 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme.
  
  Track Record: Many scouts viewed Hernandez as the best player in the 2021 international signing class. The Cubs signed him to a club-record $3 million bonus for an international free agent and he debuted later that year in the Dominican Summer League. He struggled in two ensuing stateside seasons and bottomed out with Low-A Myrtle Beach in 2023. He found much more success in his return to the level in 2024, hitting .269/.382/.406 with a 14.5% walk rate before moving on to High-A South Bend.
  
  Scouting Report: Hernandez is a solid athlete who moves well in the field and shows explosiveness at the plate. He’s the type of player where the eye test is often better than the stat line. Hernandez shows plus bat speed with the ability to adjust to spin, but struggles against above-average velocity. Hernandez has a pretty righthanded swing that whips through the zone, but he struggles to get flush and on plane upon contact. His contact skills are below-average. Even so, he showed serious growth with his approach in 2024 and his swing decisions now grade above-average. Hernandez has above-average raw power but will need to add loft to optimize his ball flight. He’s an above-average runner who’s a threat to steal 20-plus bases in a full-time role. An average defender at shortstop, Hernandez has an average arm for the position.
  
  The Future: Hernandez rebounded in a big way in 2024. He’ll return to High-A to begin 2025, where he’ll try to prove his improved plate discipline and hitting ability can stick.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #16 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Hernandez was given one of the smaller bonuses in the Phillies’ 2017 international class that included shortstop Luis Garcia, but quickly impressed in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 before missing the 2019 season due to injury and the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. He took a step forward in his full-season debut in 2021, pitching to a 3.69 ERA with 11 strikeouts per nine innings at Low-A Clearwater.
  
  Scouting Report: Hernandez stood out to opposing scouts in his first full season, with an imposing 6-foot-3 build from the right side with some projectability remaining, and a fastball that sat 93-94 mph and topped out at 96. He shows feel for the pitch, as well as a curveball with good spin that has the potential to be a plus pitch. He rounds out his arsenal with a pair of average offerings in his changeup and slider. Hernandez’s velocity backed up slightly during instructional league, a sign of fatigue after his first full season in professional baseball. Hernandez has solid-average control and projects for average command.
  
  The Future: Hernandez was one of the breakout players in the organization in 2021 and should start the 2022 season at High-A Jersey Shore. He has the stuff to project as a No. 5 starter, but needs to show he can maintain his fastball velocity deep into the season.
  

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  Midseason Update: After an impressive full-season debut in 2021 at Low-A Clearwater, Hernandez has struggled mightily at High-A Jersey Shore with a 5.70 ERA and 56 hits allowed through 47.1 innings. He&#39s failed to repeat his delivery and shown fringy stuff, with some expecting a permanent move to the bullpen.
  
  Track Record: Hernandez was given one of the smaller bonuses in the Phillies&#39 2017 international class that included shortstop Luis Garcia, but quickly impressed in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 before missing the 2019 season due to injury and the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. He took a step forward in his full-season debut in 2021, pitching to a 3.69 ERA with 11 strikeouts per nine innings at Low-A Clearwater.
  
  Scouting Report: Hernandez stood out to opposing scouts in his first full season, with an imposing 6-foot-3 build from the right side with some projectability remaining, and a fastball that sat 93-94 mph and topped out at 96. He shows feel for the pitch, as well as a curveball with good spin that has the potential to be a plus pitch. He rounds out his arsenal with a pair of average offerings in his changeup and slider. Hernandez&#39s velocity backed up slightly during instructional league, a sign of fatigue after his first full season in professional baseball. Hernandez has solid-average control and projects for average command.
  
  The Future: Hernandez was one of the breakout players in the organization in 2021 and should start the 2022 season at High-A Jersey Shore. He has the stuff to project as a No. 5 starter, but needs to show he can maintain his fastball velocity deep into the season.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Hernandez was given one of the smaller bonuses in the Phillies’ 2017 international class that included shortstop Luis Garcia, but quickly impressed in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 before missing the 2019 season due to injury and the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. He took a step forward in his full-season debut in 2021, pitching to a 3.69 ERA with 11 strikeouts per nine innings at Low-A Clearwater.
  
  Scouting Report: Hernandez stood out to opposing scouts in his first full season, with an imposing 6-foot-3 build from the right side with some projectability remaining, and a fastball that sat 93-94 mph and topped out at 96. He shows feel for the pitch, as well as a curveball with good spin that has the potential to be a plus pitch. He rounds out his arsenal with a pair of average offerings in his changeup and slider. Hernandez’s velocity backed up slightly during instructional league, a sign of fatigue after his first full season in professional baseball. Hernandez has solid-average control and projects for average command.
  
  The Future: Hernandez was one of the breakout players in the organization in 2021 and should start the 2022 season at High-A Jersey Shore. He has the stuff to project as a No. 5 starter, but needs to show he can maintain his fastball velocity deep into the season.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  After not pitching since 2018 due to injury and the canceled 2020 season, Hernandez impressed in his full-season debut at Low-A, sitting 93-94 mph on his fastball with the ability to spin a plus curveball. The 20-year-old righty has a pair of average secondaries in a slider and changeup, as well as command that projects to be average.