Aaron Hernandez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #26 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Hernandez took a winding road in college that included being declared academically ineligible for a year. He struggled in his first pro season at high Class A Inland Empire, where he walked 5.7 batters per nine innings and was dropped from the rotation at one point, but he rebounded with a strong showing as a starter in the Arizona Fall League. His only 2020 action came during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez's four-seam fastball averages 92-93 mph with average run. He flashed 96 mph in college, but he hasn't approached that as a pro and he's struggled to hold his velocity for more than three or four innings. Both of his breaking balls, a low-80s slider and upper-70s curveball, have a chance to be swing-and-miss pitches with better command. A tumbling mid-80s changeup might be his best pitch. Hernandez has a fairly clean delivery, but he sometimes loads differently with some pitches and has a tendency to yank his slider.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hernandez's stuff may eventually play up in shorter bursts out of the bullpen. He is set to open 2021 in Double-A.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #29 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Angels made Hernandez their third-round pick in 2018 after a strong junior year, but his first pro season was a struggle at high Class A Inland Empire. He showed less velocity than expected, walked 5.7 batters per nine and allowed a .269 opponent average. He bounced back in the Arizona Fall League with a 3.38 ERA over six starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez flashed 96 mph in college, but in his pro debut he sat 90-94 and struggled to hold his velocity for more than three or four innings. He heavily uses his 80-83 mph slurvy breaking ball, throwing it as often as his fastball at times, and flashes a tumbling mid-80s changeup that is his best pitch when he uses it. Hernandez's stuff is ahead of his command at this point, but the hope is both will tick up with a move to the bullpen.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hernandez rebuilt his stock somewhat with his AFL showing and will continue starting for now. He'll head to Double-A Rocket City intent to show he can stay in the rotation long-term.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #24 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Hernandez missed the 2017 season at Texas A&M Corpus-Christi for academic reasons but bounced back to have a strong 2018 season. Hernandez was one of 12 pitchers the Angels drafted and held back from pitching after signing, an approach influenced by the wave of pitching injuries that has plagued the organization over the past three years.
  
  Scouting Report: Hernandez has a lively sinking fastball that sits around 92 mph and can run up to 95-96. He pitches across his body, helping to hide the ball from opposing hitters. Hernandez's main secondary is an 80-83 mph slider he has tightened up and throws for strikes, and he has flashed an above-average changeup as well. His up-tempo delivery and quick arm speed seem to match his fiery demeanor on the mound, although some see those traits and think he is best suited in the bullpen long-term.
  
  The Future:. Hernandez spent last summer improving his strength and durability. He should reach low Class A Burlington and perhaps high Class A Inland Empire in 2019.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #97 prospect in 2018 draft
  Hernandez has some of most consistent velocity in Texas, as he regularly sat 92-95 mph touching 97-98 this season. Hernandez pitches across his body as well, which helps hide the ball early in his delivery. But scouts say that Hernandez's fastball doesn't play to the radar gun readings, as it's very true with minimal late life. Hernandez relies a lot on his above-average 80-83 mph slurvy breaking ball. It has some power, although its shape is more side-to-side than a true, downer curveball and it has a bigger break than a harder slider. Hernandez has some effort to his delivery and some evaluators believe his stuff will eventually player better out of the bullpen.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hernandez took a winding road in college that included being declared academically ineligible for a year. He struggled in his first pro season at high Class A Inland Empire, where he walked 5.7 batters per nine innings and was dropped from the rotation at one point, but he rebounded with a strong showing as a starter in the Arizona Fall League. His only 2020 action came during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez's four-seam fastball averages 92-93 mph with average run. He flashed 96 mph in college, but he hasn't approached that as a pro and he's struggled to hold his velocity for more than three or four innings. Both of his breaking balls, a low-80s slider and upper-70s curveball, have a chance to be swing-and-miss pitches with better command. A tumbling mid-80s changeup might be his best pitch. Hernandez has a fairly clean delivery, but he sometimes loads differently with some pitches and has a tendency to yank his slider.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hernandez's stuff may eventually play up in shorter bursts out of the bullpen. He is set to open 2021 in Double-A.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hernandez took a winding road in college that included being declared academically ineligible for a year. He struggled in his first pro season at high Class A Inland Empire, where he walked 5.7 batters per nine innings and was dropped from the rotation at one point, but he rebounded with a strong showing as a starter in the Arizona Fall League. His only 2020 action came during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez's four-seam fastball averages 92-93 mph with average run. He flashed 96 mph in college, but he hasn't approached that as a pro and he's struggled to hold his velocity for more than three or four innings. Both of his breaking balls, a low-80s slider and upper-70s curveball, have a chance to be swing-and-miss pitches with better command. A tumbling mid-80s changeup might be his best pitch. Hernandez has a fairly clean delivery, but he sometimes loads differently with some pitches and has a tendency to yank his slider.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hernandez's stuff may eventually play up in shorter bursts out of the bullpen. He is set to open 2021 in Double-A.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hernandez took a winding road in college that included being declared academically ineligible for a year. He struggled in his first pro season at high Class A Inland Empire, where he walked 5.7 batters per nine innings and was dropped from the rotation at one point, but he rebounded with a strong showing as a starter in the Arizona Fall League. His only 2020 action came during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez's four-seam fastball averages 92-93 mph with average run. He flashed 96 mph in college, but he hasn't approached that as a pro and he's struggled to hold his velocity for more than three or four innings. Both of his breaking balls, a low-80s slider and upper-70s curveball, have a chance to be swing-and-miss pitches with better command. A tumbling mid-80s changeup might be his best pitch. Hernandez has a fairly clean delivery, but he sometimes loads differently with some pitches and has a tendency to yank his slider.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hernandez's stuff may eventually play up in shorter bursts out of the bullpen. He is set to open 2021 in Double-A.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Angels made Hernandez their third-round pick in 2018 after a strong junior year, but his first pro season was a struggle at high Class A Inland Empire. He showed less velocity than expected, walked 5.7 batters per nine and allowed a .269 opponent average. He bounced back in the Arizona Fall League with a 3.38 ERA over six starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez flashed 96 mph in college, but in his pro debut he sat 90-94 and struggled to hold his velocity for more than three or four innings. He heavily uses his 80-83 mph slurvy breaking ball, throwing it as often as his fastball at times, and flashes a tumbling mid-80s changeup that is his best pitch when he uses it. Hernandez's stuff is ahead of his command at this point, but the hope is both will tick up with a move to the bullpen.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hernandez rebuilt his stock somewhat with his AFL showing and will continue starting for now. He'll head to Double-A Rocket City intent to show he can stay in the rotation long-term.