Jonathan Hernandez

Jonathan Hernández

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut August 21, 2019

• Born July 6, 1996 in Memphis, TN USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Jonathan Hernandez was signed by the Texas Rangers on January 30, 2013. He was born in Memphis, TN, but as the son of Fernando Hernandez, who pitched briefly in the majors, his first few years were spent as his dad moved around the minor leagues, before the family settled back in the Dominican Republic. His first two professional seasons, in 2013 and 2014, were spent in the Dominican Summer League where he was 3-1, 1.21 for the DSL Rangers the first year and 5-2, 2.85 for the DSL Rangers 1 the second. He was obviously among the most talented young pitchers in the organization, but since he was just 16 the first year, the Rangers did not want to rush him to the United States too soon.

He did move to the U.S. in 2015, when he pitched with the AZL Rangers. In 11 games, he was 1-1, 3.00 then in 2016 he was assigned to the Hickory Crawdads of the South Atlantic League, playing full-season ball for the first time. He went 10-9, 4.56, pitching 116 1/3 innings. In 2017, he started the year back with Hickory, going 2-5, 4.86 in his first 9 starts before earning a promotion to the Down East Wood Ducks of the Carolina League. While his numbers may not have been superficially impressive, the combination of his young age and excellent stuff got him named to the World Team for the 2017 Futures Game, representing the D.R. He finished the year with a combined record of 5-11, 4.03 in 23 games, with 111 2/3 innings pitched and 110 strikeouts. In 2018, he started off very strong for the Wood Ducks, with a record of 4-2, 2.20 in his first 10 starts to earn a first opportunity in AA, with the Frisco Rough Riders of the Texas League. While he found the going tougher there, he still finished the season at 8-6, 3.63 with 134 strikeouts in 121 1/3 innings, maintaining his status as one of the organization's top pitching prospects.

He reached the majors late in the 2019 season and went 2-1, 4.32 in 9 games, including 2 starts. In 2020 he spent all of the abbreviated season with the Rangers and was one of their most effective pitchers, going 5-1, 2.90 in 27 appearances out of the bullpen. he struck out 31 batters in as many innings, walking just 8. He then underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2021 and did not pitch at all at any level that season. He was still in rehabilitation when spring training opened in 2022 and on March 20th was placed on the 60-day injured list to make room on the roster for veteran pitcher Garrett Richards.

Further Reading

• Kyle Glaser: "Jonathan Hernandez Continues Breakthrough Season", Baseball America, May 23, 2018. [1]

Related Sites

• Jonathan Hernández on mlb.com
• BR Minors page