Diory Hernandez
| AB | 127 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .157 |
| OBP | .195 |
| SLG | .26 |
| HR | 3 |
- Full name Diory Hernandez
- Born 04/08/1984 in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 05/21/2009
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A change in attitude last year altered Hernandez' performance as well as his standing within the organization. After acting sullen and lethargic at Myrtle Beach for most of 2005 and 2006, Hernandez returned to high Class A with a fresh determination to succeed. He batted .378 in April and received an early promotion to Double-A, where he continued to show plenty of tools as well as the ability to play second base in addition to shortstop. Offensively, Hernandez' strength is his ability to put the ball in play. He uses the entire field with his short swing, solid bat speed and outstanding hand-eye coordination. His plate discipline and overall approach tend to fluctuate, but his ability to make consistent contact helps him avoid prolonged slumps. Hernandez has plus speed and good lateral movement on defense. He also has soft hands with a quick first step. His arm is fringe-average for short but plays well at second. For all his tools, Hernandez continues to learn the finer points of the game, particularly in understanding game situations when at the plate and running the bases. He got caught 20 times in 42 steal attempts last season. If he maintains his recent momentum and has a strong season in Triple-A in 2008, he could factor into Atlanta's infield plans in the near future. -
Few players in the organization receive more mixed reviews than Hernandez. His proponents love his offensive potential. He's much further along at the plate than Luis Hernandez (no relation) and T.J. Pena were at the same point of their careers. Twenty-four of Hernandez' 83 hits last year went for extra bases, and he finished with a flourish by batting .307 in the final month. Detractors point to Hernandez's free-swinging ways and his mediocre speed and question how he'll be able to produce against better pitching. Defensively, Hernandez is raw and his range might be better suited for third base than shortstop. The Braves wish he'd mature, because he gets moody and doesn't always deal with the daily grind of baseball. But like Gonzalo Lopez, he's considered to be worth the warts because of his potential. His next stop is high Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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In a year where the Braves emptied their farm system to trade for Mark Teixeira, Hernandez' emergence as a toolsy, versatile infielder with a chance to hit his way into an everyday role was a welcome development for their farm system. Hernandez has a short swing with good bat speed and excellent hand-eye coordination. He can drive balls from gap to gap and uses the whole field, though his approach tends to vacillate. Hernandez has pitch recognition and doesn't swing and miss often, though he could tighten his plate discipline. He's a plus runner, which aids his ability to play both middle-infield positions. Hernandez' actions are natural and easy, with a good first step, solid range, excellent hands and a fringe-average arm that plays up because of his quick exchange. One scout questioned Hernandez' instincts, and his minor league-high 22 times caught stealing (in 46 attempts) illustrate that he has a lot to learn about the nuances of the game.
