Oscar Hernandez
| AB | 46 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .196 |
| OBP | .26 |
| SLG | .283 |
| HR | 1 |
- Full name Óscar Eduardo Hernández
- Born 07/09/1993 in Punto De Fijo, Venezuela
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 07/12/2015
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Hernandez became the first catcher plucked from low Class A to stick in the Rule 5 draft in at least 40 years after the Diamondbacks selected him with the first pick. The requirement that Hernandez spend the entire season on Arizona's 25-man roster was easier to meet when the native Venezuelan broke a hamate bone during spring training, allowing him to stay on the disabled list rather than the active roster. After brief rehab assignments at low Class A Kane County and Triple-A Reno, Hernandez made his big league debut on July 12 and spent the rest of the season in the big leagues. While his defense is major leagueready, the 22-year-old will need a few years on the farm to develop into a competent hitter. With strength and hand speed, Hernandez has a chance to hit for power as he matures but needs time to develop a polished approach at the plate and learn to repeat his swing. He's a good all-around catcher with a plus arm and above-average footwork. Diamondbacks pitchers liked throwing to him, but inexperience causes him to make mistakes behind the plate. Double-A Mobile is Hernandez's most likely destination to start 2016. -
Hernandez won the Venezuelan Summer League MVP award in 2011, capturing the triple crown and establishing league records for average (.402), home runs (21) and RBIs (66). He made his U.S. debut in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2012, throwing out 38 percent of basestealers, and jumped to the short-season New York-Penn League in 2013, where he ranked as the circuit's No. 2 prospect. After impressing with his bat early in his career, Hernandez has improved immensely with the glove and could prove to be a top-of-the-line receiver. He can shut down running games with plus arm strength and above-average footwork and athleticism, and he threw out 57 percent of basestealers last year. He receives and blocks the ball cleanly and does an excellent job of working with pitchers. Hernandez shows solid bat speed with a good approach but tends to get pull-happy. The Rays want him to use the middle of the field more consistently and concentrate on hitting line drives. Given the strides he has made over the past three seasons, Hernandez could make a big move up this list in 2014 if he hits. He'll start by returning to low Class A Bowling Green.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Hernandez made a name for himself when he hit 21 home runs as a 17-year-old in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League in 2011, but he stood out more for his defense and his makeup this summer. He got off to a solid start with the bat but wore down over the course of the summer, hitting .319 in June but just .133 in August. Still, scouts and NY-P managers like Hernandez?s bat speed, pitch recognition and approach, projecting him as a fringe-average hitter with fringe-average to slightly above-average power. He uses the middle of the field much better than he did in past years, but he still gets pull-happy at times. He?s an excellent athlete for a catcher, with average speed. Hernandez has a chance to be special defensively. He takes great pride in his defense and handles pitchers with rare aplomb. He receives and blocks very well, giving him a chance to be a plus defensive catcher with an arm that conservatively rates as a 60 and draws some 70 grades. ?He has a quick, accurate, powerful arm, and he loves to catch,? said Aberdeen manager Matt Merullo, a former big league catcher. ?He loves to make a pitch look like a strike. When he receives pitches in between innings, he?s serious about it. He makes sure he?s got a good target, like he?s got the catching instructor standing over his shoulder. He loves everything about catching?it just shows with the energy that he brings.?
