Pirates A to Z: Rule 5 pick Jose Hernandez became valuable lefty reliever for bullpen

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Jose Hernandez

Position: Relief pitcher

Throws: Left

Age: 25

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 205 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: Went 1-3 with a 4.97 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, 62 strikeouts and 22 walks in 50⅔ innings over 50 appearances.

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: Selected from the Los Angeles Dodgers with the third pick of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 7.

This past season: Hernandez did something his Pirates predecessors from the Rule 5 Draft couldn’t, which was survive a full season.

It marked the third consecutive year general manager Ben Cherington selected a pitcher, as Hernandez followed Jose Soriano and Luis Oviedo. Where Soriano underwent Tommy John surgery, Oviedo was waived.

The Pirates were seeking to add more swing-and-miss to their bullpen, and Hernandez showed the stuff they liked with fastball command. The Pirates were hoping that Hernandez, whose fastball velocity touched 99 mph, was a late bloomer who would flourish if given an opportunity.

Hernandez started the 2022 season as the closer at High-A Great Lakes, recording a 2.14 ERA with eight saves. Over his final 13 games, Hernadez had a .156 batting average against and 0.98 WHIP. He was promoted to Double-A Tusla on May 28, where he had 47 strikeouts against 18 walks but allowed seven home runs in 38⅔ innings over 36 appearances. Over his final 15 outings, however, Hernandez recorded a 2.93 ERA, 26 strikeouts, a .135 batting average against and a 1.04 WHIP.

“(He throws) enough strikes that we’ll give him a chance to compete for a job in the bullpen in spring training,” Cherington said. “Given the athleticism and improvement last season, we think there may be more there.”

Pirates Rule 5 pickup Jose Hernandez pic.twitter.com/w0K16VLdON

— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) February 23, 2023

The early returns proved the Pirates correct, which was necessary after veteran lefty reliever Jarlin Garcia encountered nerve issues in spring training that prevented him from pitching all season.

Hernandez made his major league debut at the Cincinnati Reds on April 1, throwing a scoreless ninth inning in a 6-2 loss. He got his first strikeout three days later at Boston, getting pinch hitter Raimel Tapia looking at a called third strike to end the seventh inning of a 4-1 win.

First big league strikeout for Jose Hernandez! pic.twitter.com/6j0lWbgCSL

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 5, 2023

The biggest moment of his season came April 25, when Hernandez faced the Dodgers for the first time and retired the side in order. Signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic, he never made it past Double-A. So, Hernandez had no shortage of motivation.

Hernandez got All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman to ground out to second, then struck out pinch hitter Trayce Thompson and rookie outfielder James Outman. Both strikeouts came on full counts, as Hernandez threw a changeup to get the right-handed Thompson and blew a 96-mph fastball past Outman to end the seventh.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton called Hernandez “definitely the bright spot” in the 8-7 loss, as he executed his four-seam fastball, slider and changeup.

“I thought he was outstanding,” Shelton said, noting that Hernandez hadn’t pitched since a 14-3 win over Colorado on April 17. “He hadn’t pitched in, what, six days? He went right at Freeman, right at Outman. That was impressive. Yeah, it’s his old team and the heart of a really good lineup and it did not seem to faze him.

“When you have Rule 5 guys, sometimes you take them because of their stuff. We took him because of his stuff but he’s thrown strikes his entire career. For him to come in in a big moment like that, in that game, against his former team where he could have a little bit of jitters, he was very calm and executed very good.”

Hernandez said he was “super grateful for the opportunity.”

“Last year I was in Double-A at this time,” Hernandez said. “This year, I’m here and I’m happy to show people and show the world and every team out there that I was ready to be up here and compete.”

“Ryan led my Tommy John Rehab which helped me become stronger than before injury! I would recommend him and Armored Heat to anybody”

✅ Jose Hernandez (Pittsburgh Pirates) pic.twitter.com/JbGOIMkMqS

— Armored Heat (@ArmoredHeat) October 23, 2023

With Garcia on the 60-day injured list and Rob Zastryzny on the 15-day IL, Hernandez was the only lefty in the Pirates’ bullpen so he quickly learned to be ready when left-handed hitters came to bat.

“Always ready, now that I’m the only lefty out there,” Hernadez said. “I have to be mentally or physically ready just in case I get the call to face those lefties or any other situation.”

Hernandez recorded three strikeouts but gave up a solo homer to Blake Perkins in the ninth inning of a 5-0 loss at the Milwaukee Brewers on June 17. The next day, he was placed on the 15-day IL with a right calf strain. Hernandez didn’t return to the Pirates until July 21, after pitching in five games at Triple-A Indianapolis on a rehabilitation assignment.

At the time, Hernandez had a 2.63 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 28 strikeouts against six walks as opponents batted .220 against him in 27⅓ innings. Upon his return, he wasn’t nearly as effective. In his final 24 appearances, Hernandez had a 7.71 ERA and 5.74 FIP, surrendering six homers and 16 walks in 23⅓ innings.

The future: When Hernandez went on the injured list, it opened the door for another lefty, Ryan Borucki, to take his spot in the bullpen and become one of the Pirates’ most dependable relievers.

Since the season ended, the Pirates have parted ways with a couple lefty relievers, as they declined Garcia’s option and placed Angel Perdomo on waivers. They also traded for lefty Bailey Falter, who worked as both a starter and a bulk reliever.

Where Hernandez had an effective slider to record 50 strikeouts and hold hitters to a .170 batting average and a 39.5% whiff rate, hitters connected against his changeup (.335) and four-seamer (.304).

Hernandez will have competition for a bullpen spot this season but proved, when healthy, that he can pitch effectively in the major leagues.