Erick Hernandez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #25 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Hernandez was born in New York but grew up in the Dominican Republic. His $1 million bonus was the second highest in the White Sox 2022 international class, trailing only the $2.7 million for Oscar Colas. He began his career at home in the Dominican Summer League and started strong before struggling with a sore right knee.
  
  Scouting Report: The bat is Hernandez's carrying tool. He has sound knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to put together good at-bats. With a good approach at the plate, he puts the barrel to the ball and has the ability to hit to all fields and also adjust nicely to off-speed pitches. He'll develop more home run pop with added strength, and projects to have fringe-average in-game power. Hernandez is a natural center fielder now, with his impressive instincts and jumps compensating for just average speed. If he slows down with physical maturity, he may have to slide to an outfield corner, and his average arm strength could be a bit short for right field. Most impressive about Hernandez is his consistency and high energy on the field.
  
  The Future: Hernandez spent time at the White Sox complex in Arizona during fall instructional league and will return in 2023 for his official stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League. As a hit-over-power prospect, he brings a different skill set from other international players signed by the organization.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Hernandez was born in New York but grew up in the Dominican Republic. His $1 million bonus was the second highest in the White Sox 2022 international class, trailing only the $2.7 million for Oscar Colas. He began his career at home in the Dominican Summer League and started strong before struggling with a sore right knee.
  
  Scouting Report: The bat is Hernandez's carrying tool. He has sound knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to put together good at-bats. With a good approach at the plate, he puts the barrel to the ball and has the ability to hit to all fields and also adjust nicely to off-speed pitches. He'll develop more home run pop with added strength, and projects to have fringe-average in-game power. Hernandez is a natural center fielder now, with his impressive instincts and jumps compensating for just average speed. If he slows down with physical maturity, he may have to slide to an outfield corner, and his average arm strength could be a bit short for right field. Most impressive about Hernandez is his consistency and high energy on the field.
  
  The Future: Hernandez spent time at the White Sox complex in Arizona during fall instructional league and will return in 2023 for his official stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League. As a hit-over-power prospect, he brings a different skill set from other international players signed by the organization.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Hernandez was born in New York but grew up in the Dominican Republic. His $1 million bonus was the second highest in the White Sox 2022 international class, trailing only the $2.7 million for Oscar Colas. He began his career at home in the Dominican Summer League and started strong before struggling with a sore right knee.
  
  Scouting Report: The bat is Hernandez's carrying tool. He has sound knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to put together good at-bats. With a good approach at the plate, he puts the barrel to the ball and has the ability to hit to all fields and also adjust nicely to off-speed pitches. He'll develop more home run pop with added strength, and projects to have fringe-average in-game power. Hernandez is a natural center fielder now, with his impressive instincts and jumps compensating for just average speed. If he slows down with physical maturity, he may have to slide to an outfield corner, and his average arm strength could be a bit short for right field. Most impressive about Hernandez is his consistency and high energy on the field.
  
  The Future: Hernandez spent time at the White Sox complex in Arizona during fall instructional league and will return in 2023 for his official stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League. As a hit-over-power prospect, he brings a different skill set from other international players signed by the organization.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record:: After signing 23-year-old Cuban outfielder Oscar Colas for $2.7 million, Hernandez was the second-biggest signing for the White Sox in their 2021-22 international class, landing him for $1 million in Jan. 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: Scouts highest on Hernandez as an amateur felt he was one of the better pure hitters in his class. He has a simple approach and swing, with a fluid lefty stroke and the ability to whip his hands through the zone quickly to generate good bat speed and catch up to high-end velocity. While a lot of young hitters tend to overswing and get pull happy, Hernandez generally stays under control and spreads the ball around the field with a high-contact game. As he&#39 s gotten stronger, he is starting to flash more over-the-fence power, with a hit-over-power profile now but a chance for 20-plus home runs as he physically matures. Hernandez is an average runner underway with a fringe-average arm and the defensive instincts to get time in center field, though long term he likely heads to a corner.
  
  The Future: While the White Sox have signed a lot of power-oriented hitters from Latin America, Hernandez brings a different skill set to the organization. He should make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League.