Cuban outfielder Yadiel Hernandez, who defected from the island late last June, has been declared a free agent by Major League Baseball today, reports Baseball America’s Ben Badler. The 28-year-old corner fielder had a showcase back in February that reportedly drew scouts from 25 teams.
Because Hernandez is older than 23 and has more than five years of professional experience in Cuba, he’s exempt from international signing bonuses and free to sign a Major League contract for any amount. A career .324/.449/.487 batter in Cuba, Hernandez has enough pop in his bat to hit 10 to 15 homers in a season, Badler writes, but the left-handed hitter’s on-base skills are a likelier source of value to big league teams. Indeed, Hernandez walked at an exceptional 17.5 percent clip throughout his career in Cuba, and his 380 walks drawn in those six seasons dwarf his 285 strikeouts.
Unlike many international free agents, Hernandez could conceivably help a big league club in short order, but it’s also important to note that he hasn’t played regularly in a game setting since the 2014-15 season in Cuba’s Serie Nacional. As such, it seems likely that he’d require some time in the minor leagues if for no other reason than to get up to speed and get some reps at the plate and in the field.
Badler adds that since his open showcase in late February, Hernandez has been hosting private workouts for interested clubs. He’s a client of Rep 1 Baseball.
I think maybe GM’s should stop reading what Ben Badler writes about.
Another potential 10-15 homer guy, a corner outfielder mind you, who hasn’t played in almost 2 years who will demand BIG money to sign and the best thing that can be said about him is that he has a good Walk Rate “dwarfs his StrikeOut rate?
Really!
2014-2015 season was a year ago, and that’s not much different than a guy coming back from TJS
10-15 HR from a corner OF is nothing to be excited about. Combine it with a solid approach and good on base skills and the profile becomes more potentially impactful
May be true but name some of the truly valued corner OF ballplayers who are POTENTIAL 10-15 homer players who play everyday in the majors. Usually a 4th guy or an injury fill-in. Not somebody to build around.
And, frankly I don’t remember reading anything about a “good approach”, just that he has more walks than strikeouts.
If we’ve learned anything Cuban league stats more times than not don’t translate very well to the majors
Depends on his defense?
There are a lot of guys like this in the Bigs.
Guys like Michael Saunders….. Heck Markakis doesn’t hit even 10 hr anymore but plays good defense and gets on base.
If this guy is not a liability in the field he could be an ideal #2 hitter for a struggling offense….. Like my Padres.
At this point just about anybody would be an upgrade. I think it depends on his defense too.
I don’t think GMs are paying much, if any attention, to journalists third hand scouting reports.
Should be noted that this guy is the 16th rated Cuban player according to Baseball America.
I’d imagine that gms do not read what ben badler writes and instead send their own talent evaluators to observe players that they are interested in signing….
Tough to evaluate a guy that’s been out of baseball for the better part of the last two years….showcases mean nothing.
“Because Hernandez is older then 23.”
Should be, ‘Because Hernandez is older than 23.’
It’s, ‘than,’ you see?
Fixed.
Way to go, Steve.