Carlos Hernandez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #1 prospect in 2002
  For all their success mining Venezuela for talent, the Astros didn't get a major league win from those efforts until last Aug. 18. The first Houston pitcher to jump from Double-A to the majors in a decade, Hernandez blanked the Pirates on two hits over seven innings. He followed up with six scoreless innings against the Phillies, and extended his shutout streak to 17 innings in his next start before giving up a two-run homer to the Reds' Adam Dunn. But in that game Hernandez dove headfirst back into second base, slightly tearing his rotator cuff and ending his season. He had shown brilliance in flashes before, with an 18-strikeout game in 1999 and a no-hitter in 2000, but hadn't been consistent. Hernandez set the tone for 2001 before the season even began, as he was the most impressive prospect in Houston's big league camp and threw five perfect innings against the Astros in the exhibition finale. Hernandez' best pitch has always been a curveball that made him unhittable when he could throw it for strikes. It has a true 12-to-6 break, but he was inconsistent with it and sometimes relied on it too much. At the beginning of the year at Double-A Round Rock, he started using his fastball and changeup more often, which cost him command of his curve. By midseason he had all three pitches working. Hernandez has learned to trust all three pitches. His curve is still his bread and butter, though his fastball is also a quality pitch at 90-95 mph with late life. He'll be encouraged to remove the headfirst slide from his repertoire. Fortunately he didn't need shoulder surgery because rest should heal the tear, but he didn't pitch again until January. Once healthy, he just needs to hone his control, both in terms of throwing strikes and locating his pitches within the zone. Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller and Shane Reynolds are guaranteed jobs in the Houston rotation, and the Astros are leaning toward keeping Dave Mlicki in the fourth slot. Hernandez and Tim Redding should battle to be the No. 5 starter, and Hernandez may have an advantage because he's a lefty.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #14 prospect in 2001
  When Hernandez is on, he's really on. He clinched an Appalachian League division title with an 18-strikeout gem in 1999, and threw a Midwest League no-hitter last May after missing all of April with a lower-back strain. The key for him is his curveball. When he has it working, it's devastating and untouchable, but there are plenty of occasions when he bounces it in the dirt and can't throw it for strikes. Hernandez needs to learn to pitch off his fastball, which has average velocity and can touch 93 mph, rather than fall in love with his curve. His changeup is developing, though he alternately abandons and overuses it. His stuff is better than his feel for pitching, but he's still young enough to figure it out. Hernandez will move up a step to high Class A in 2001.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Texas League #3 prospect in 2001
  The surprise success story of the Astros system made his first Enron Field appearance April 1, throwing five perfect innings in an exhibition game against the parent club. Four months later Hernandez, who had made a spring-training start for the Astros in a game against the Indians in his native Venezuela, was back throwing shutout innings in Enron. He gave up two runs in three starts for Houston before partially tearing his rotator cuff on an awkward slide on the basepaths. Dierker, who had a similarly rapid rise to the majors at an early age, expects to see him pitch many more scoreless frames in the future. "He's got a soft, easy throwing motion and an above-average fastball, changeup and curve," Dierker said. "To have that at 20 years old and be a lefthander is just a great opportunity, and I'm sure he'll make the most of it." Hernandez is small in stature but has sneaky heat on his low-90s fastball and an old-fashioned curve that can break a foot or more. Other than his baserunning, he doesn't have any obvious flaws. "His fastball has that true backspin where they foul it back and have trouble centering it," Dierker said. "His control doesn't have to improve much and he's got that pop right at the end like Billy Wagner."
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  Ranked Midwest League #13 prospect in 2000
  The Astros’ scouting efforts in Venezuela have produced 12 big leaguers, but none of them has been a pitcher who has won a game for Houston. Hernandez and Double-A Round Rock’s Wilfredo Rodriguez should change that in the near future. Hernandez missed April with a bad back, then no-hit West Michigan in May. He can touch 93 mph, but Hernandez usually pitches at 89-90 mph with his fastball. His best pitch is a curveball that can be outstanding when he’s going well or bounce in the dirt when he rushes his delivery. His changeup and command still are developing.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #24 prospect in 2002

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The Astros’ scouting efforts in Venezuela have produced 12 big leaguers, but none of them has been a pitcher who has won a game for Houston. Hernandez and Double-A Round Rock’s Wilfredo Rodriguez should change that in the near future. Hernandez missed April with a bad back, then no-hit West Michigan in May. He can touch 93 mph, but Hernandez usually pitches at 89-90 mph with his fastball. His best pitch is a curveball that can be outstanding when he’s going well or bounce in the dirt when he rushes his delivery. His changeup and command still are developing.