Jose

Hernandez

The 23-year-old backstop doesn’t have much left to prove in the minor leagues, but with Will Smit and Austin Barnes holding things down at the game’s highest level, he’ll need to work his way into the crowded outfield mix in order to have any shot of breaking camp. He’ll be an intriguing option for fantasy purposes when he does finally arrive in Los Angeles, but it’ll probably take an injury to Smith or Barnes for it to happen. Roki Sasaki and Zyhir Hope also received official invitations to spring training on Friday.

Hernandez passed through waivers unclaimed during the All-Star break just a couple weeks after being scooped up off waivers from the Pirates. The 26-year-old southpaw holds a serviceable 4.82 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 66/26 K/BB ratio across 56 innings (57 appearances) over the last two seasons in the majors. He’ll remain with Los Angeles as extra organizational relief depth.

Hernández winds up back with the Dodgers, who lost him to the Pirates a couple years ago in the Rule 5 Draft, shortly after being removed from Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster earlier this week. The 26-year-old lefty holds a respectable 4.82 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 66/26 K/BB ratio across 56 innings (57 appearances) over the last two seasons in the majors. He’ll augment Los Angeles’ organizational relief depth moving forward.

Hernandez has been removed from Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster to make room for the Bucs to claim reliever Dennis Santana off waivers from the Yankees. The 26-year-old lefty has pitched to a solid 4.82 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 66/26 K/BB ratio across 56 innings (57 appearances) over the last two seasons for the Pirates. He should generate plenty of interest on waivers.

Hernandez goes back to Triple-A to make room for Ben Heller. The left-hander will be up-and-down throughout the 2024 season, and it’d be a surprise if this is the last time we see his name in a transaction of this sort.

he Pirates need more depth in their bullpen right now, so Hernandez will take the place of Jack Suwinski, who was optioned on Thursday. The 26-year-old left-hander has a 7.62 ERA across 12 games in Triple-A but has been solid in his limited appearances for the Pirates, registering a 1.93 ERA across 4 2/3 innings. This figures to just be a short-term move for bullpen depth.

Don’t hold your breath for Paul Skenes. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington made it clear on a radio interview this week that team wants Skenes to build up volume at Triple-A before he makes his major league debut. Regardless, Hernandez’s stint with Pittsburgh will likely be remembered when he balked and allowed a runner to score before throwing his first pitch when the score was tied 1-1 in the seventh inning.

The 26-year-old southpaw was brought back up prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles. He should stick around as another left-handed option out of the Bucs’ bullpen while Ryan Borucki is stationed on the injured list. Hernandez has yet to allow a baserunner over two innings at the big-league level this season.

Hernandez was able to pick up a save in Thursday’s Opening Day win, but the southpaw will head back to Triple-A with Roansy Contreras activated off the paternity list. Hernandez will likely be back with the Bucs at some point this spring.

Hernandez got the call to guard a one-run lead in the 12th inning of Thursday’s Opening Day marathon against the Marlins just a few hours after getting the call back to the majors with Roansy Contreras on paternity leave. He’s unlikely to net any additional save chances moving forward.