The Brewers announced today that they have claimed right-hander Ariel Hernandez off waivers from the Dodgers. He had been designated for assignment recently.
Hernandez worked at 98.1 mph with his fastball and produced a 12.6% swinging-strike rate in 24 1/3 MLB frames last year with the Reds. But he also handed out 22 free passes in that span, which perhaps led the Cincinnati club to designate him for assignment early in the present season.
It’s also clear, though, that teams are intrigued at the idea of harnessing Hernandez’s stuff. The Dodgers had to give up some value to acquire him in mid-April, indicating that there was competition, and now the Brewers will tie up a 40-man spot (for the time being, at least) in the middle of a pennant race.
Thus far in 2018, Hernandez has posted a 2.52 ERA in fifty frames over 37 appearances in the upper minors. But he has also produced just 49 strikeouts to go with 29 walks on the year. Hernandez has struggled in particular at the highest level of the minors; in 42 1/3 total frames there over the past two seasons, he has retired 40 batters on strikes but issued 39 free passes.
Think I would rather have them claimed Zac Curtis ahead of this guy but hopefully they got this guy for depth in the minors. Sometimes you can make too many changes though.
Uhh bud do you know how Waviers work
ok relax so I made a mistake and yes I know how waivers work. I checked up on the guy and he could be a good addition. But sometimes switching too many players can have a negative affect on continuity in the clubhouse
Is wavier a surfing term? Explain please.
Looks like a guy with good stuff and poor command? I feel like the Brewers believe in their coaching ability to tweak guys like this.
Absolutely filthy stuff. Near 100 mph fastball and astounding curve, but it will come and go from batter to batter. I’d love to see someone straighten out his control. He’d be so much fun to watch pitch.
Elite fastball and curveball.
Obviously he has no command whatsoever, but if he can figure out how to harness it, he could become a late inning power reliever.
Hernandez is a fun “what-if” lottery ticket.
At least it means Matt Albers is gone…probably DL…
Brew Crew pitching staff to the rescue!!
“Thus far in 2018, Hernandez has posted a 2.52 ERA in fifty frames over 37 appearances in the upper minors. But he has also produced just 49 strikeouts”
Oh not, not JUST 49 K’s in 50 IP. How dare he have an 8.8 K/9
49 Ks to go with 29 walks
That’s not that impressive
#Ibrlieveincoachderek
How old is he? Mid 20’s? Article doesn’t say
26 1/2
How many teams will think they can improve his control and make an effective pitcher out of him? I think this is the fifth different team to take their shot at it.
Nice acquisition for MIL. I think LAD really wanted more time with him. He will be an effective pitcher at the major league level someday.
Not sure if LAD really gave up anything of value for the guy as implied. True they did give the Reds 2 players, but 1 was a 29 year old reliever who made it through waivers, and the other was a 23year old 1stbaseman with a .7something ops in low A.
Let’s try a rewrite.
“Dodgers had to give up a few warm bodies for him”.
Or
“Surprisingly the Dodgers were willing to give up more then a bucket of balls, a few hand me down jock straps, and some used bubble gum”.
“Ariel Hernandez may already be elite” fangraphs.
Is he going to hit for Schoop as well?
i agree hernandez is a cool lottery ticket with real upside… you cant say that about most this time of the year…. go brew crew….
he was fun to watch as a Reds fan, hope he tightens things up, he’ll be lights out if he does.. Good luck to him!