Seth

Hernandez

Great news for Florida State League hitters. The 19-year-old Hernandez was simply overwhelming them with 50 strikeouts and 13 hits allowed in 28 innings. His ERA stood at 0.96.

Hernandez posted nine punchouts for the third consecutive starts and generated an eye-popping 24 swinging strikes in this one. He threw 56 of 81 pitches for strikes and allowed just four baserunners over six dominant innings. The 19-year-old continues to strengthen his case as the top fantasy pitching prospect in the game. He’s struck out 48.1 percent of the batters he’s faced in his professional debut while recording a microscopic 0.96 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 50/7 K/BB ratio across 28 innings over six starts at Low-A.

Hernandez generated 19 swinging strikes and tallied nine strikeouts for the second consecutive start. He wasn’t completely untouchable in this one as he surrendered six hits, including a pair of solo homers, while throwing 47 of 70 pitches for strikes. The 19-year-old prodigy, who was selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft, holds a sparkling 1.23 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 41/6 K/BB ratio across 22 innings this season. He’s still a couple hyperspace jumps away from potentially joining Paul Skenes atop Pittsburgh’s rotation, but he’s clearly one of the top fantasy pitching prospects in the game already.

Hernandez has looked like one of the top pitching prospects in baseball during his professional debut, recording a pristine 0.53 ERA and 32/5 K/BB ratio across 17 innings over five starts. The 19-year-old phenom, who was selected sixth overall in last year’s draft, flashes triple-digit fastball velocity in addition to strong secondaries. He topped 96 mph on 30 of his 61 pitches during Friday’s latest dominant performance. He’s a couple hyperspace jumps from the majors, despite being extremely advanced for his age and experience, but there’s a realistic chance he finishes the year in the upper minors.

It’s hard to fully capture how dominant Hernandez has been in his professional debut. The numbers speak for themselves as he’s compiled a microscopic 0.75 ERA with a 23/3 K/BB ratio over 12 innings. The 19-year-old, taken sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft, already looks like one of the most polished young arms in baseball and could reach Double-A by the end of the season. A rapid ascent to the majors like collegiate arms Chase Burns or Trey Yesavage last year seems unlikely, but the stuff is there for him to debut at some point next year.

Hernandez put together another scintillating performance in the wake of last week’s sublime professional debut, generating 14 swinging strikes, maxed out at 100.5 mph and dominated with a virtually unhittable sinker. The 19-year-old prodigy has compiled a microscopic 1.29 ERA and 15/1 K/BB ratio across seven innings to open the season. It’s become abundantly clear that Hernandez is already one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and has the potential to be a front-of-the-rotation starter in the future. He’s going to skyrocket up dynasty rankings lists in the next few weeks, if he hasn’t already.

There are professional debuts, and then there’s whatever Hernandez just did. The 19-year-old prodigy was selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft as the consensus top prep pitching arm in the class and has certainly lived up to the hype. He topped out at 99.3 mph and generated an eye-popping 18 swinging strikes on 39 pitches (30 strikes) in the abbreviated outing. He’s still a hyperspace jump or two, to borrow a Star Wars metaphor, from reaching the big leagues, but he’s clearly one of the top pitching prospects in the fantasy landscape already. He’ll be one of the biggest risers in dynasty rankings over the next few months.

Hernandez, the first high school pitcher selected this year, takes just below the slot value of $7.56 million as the No. 6 pick. He was committed to Vanderbilt, but there was never any real chance that he’d get there.

Hernandez is viewed as not only the top prep pitching prospect in this draft, but one of the best of the past several years. The 6-foot-4 right-hander will touch the high-90 mph range without much effort, and there’s the potential for more as he fills out his frame. He also offers two swing-and-miss pitches in his curveball and change, with a slider that isn’t far behind. Hernandez gets rave reviews for his feel for pitching, and he should throw more than enough strikes to be a starter at the highest level. The risk is obvious; he’s a young pitcher who throws hard, but he has a chance to be the best pitcher -- maybe even player -- in the class.