Robert Hernandez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #17 prospect in 2008
  Carlos Zambrano has taken his Venezuelan countryman Hernandez under his wing and already has started touting him to the Cubs' press corps. Hernandez is still a few years away from joining his booster at Wrigley Field, but he's further along then most players his age. He began 2007 in extended spring training before being summoned to Peoria in May, and he stayed there for the remainder of the season. The Midwest League's youngest regular starting pitcher at 18, Hernandez showed the potential for two plus pitches with his 88-92 mph fastball and his advanced changeup. Extremely young and skinny, he has plenty of time and room to add strength and velocity. He wasn't intimidated by older hitters and had no difficulties throwing strikes. Besides maturing physically, Hernandez' biggest need is to come up with a breaking ball. He has messed around with both a curveball and a slider, but both remain below average for now. After handling low Class A with surprising ease, Hernandez faces another challenge in 2008 as a 19-year-old in high Class A.