Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | TB | OF | 10 | 50 |
Grades Update: Aug 2021
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 45 | 45 | 40 |
Aug 2021 Report
Evaluator: Jake Kerns
Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA (TEX)
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Above-average height with a solid, sturdy build. He's filled out since signing, and has the physical look of a major league catcher, but there is a chance he continues to grow and move out of the field entirely.
Hit: Utilizes a slightly open and upright stance, and he keeps his knees bent. His hands stay high and back, with some loose and rhythmic movement pre-pitch. Uses a small-to-moderate leg kick as he closes his stance and steps into the pitch. Stands back in the box and has a wide base at impact. Above-average or better bat speed that generates hard contact on barreled balls. The ball jumps off the bat when he connects. It's a rotational swing with a mostly linear bat path, but he does show an inclination to swing upwards. Either bat path gets the ball in the air with regularity, and he has the look of an extra-base hitter. Has innate bat-to-ball skills and does a good job with getting the ball into play. He shows a strong eye and regularly produces excellent walks rates. Despite his bat-to-ball skills and eye, he does strike out too frequently, which is a sign of both his aggressiveness and confidence with the stick. If he can cut down his K-rates, and show some improved plate discipline, he has the potential to be an on-base machine. Grade: 55
Power: Possesses above-average to plus raw power. His bat-to-ball skills and propensity to get the ball in the air suggests he can get to that raw power, too. He's a strong kid, and he generates some very loud contact and high exit velocities, and when that's coupled with his bat-to-ball skills, there's reason to believe he's a future 20+ home run hitter at the next level. Grade: 50
Field: Hernandez has played a lot of catcher in the past, but he's mostly getting reps in LF this season. He moves well behind the plate and has solid instincts there, but he's rough around the edges. He's not afraid to get in the dirt and block a pitch, but I've also watched him be somewhat nonchalant with his backhands, which could be a sign of his indifference to the position or the trust in his glove. He has the look of an average receiver, and shows an understanding of pitch framing, but he'll need reps there, and those chances are diminishing. In the grass, he's showing fringe-average to average range. He takes solid routes, but his foot speed limits him. As with catcher, he's playable there, and that might be where he ends up, assuming he even plays the field. Grade: 45
Arm: He has average arm strength, but my limited looks at him behind the plate suggest his arm plays below that due to slower-than-desired transfers. His pop times were in the 2.10 range, which is, again, playable at the position, but it hardly stands out. In the field, the ball shows decent carry from the grass. Grade: 45
Run: Timed 4.33 down the line from the right side. Hustles out of the box and is surprisingly agile for his size, but he'll probably slow with time and/or any additional bulk. Grade: 40
Overall: Hernandez possesses one of the better bats in the system, and there's legitimate hit and power potential from that standpoint. The knock on Hernandez is, and will continue to be, his spot in the field. He's a capable catcher, but the rigors of the position would likely suppress his bat. The Rays have stuck him in LF and asked him to mash in Charleston, and that appears to be the plan with each level moving forward. He projects as a high on-base hitter, and that very well may come from a corner spot or DH position. He's good enough with the stick for that to work, though.
OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Average Everyday Regular
Risk: Moderate
