Pirates announced today that they have signed right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez. They picked him with a first-round pick (sixth) in the draft last week. Jim Callis of MLB.com reported that the signature bonus was 7.25mm, which was worth about $3 million from the sixth pick of the $7,558,600 slot machine. Callis noted that this is the highest bonus for high school pitchers ever.
Entering the draft, Hernandez is considered one of the top 25 guys available, although there is a wide range of opinions on exactly where to rank him among these top figures. Baseball America ranked second overall, MLB Pipeline in #3, ESPN ranked fourth, Fangraphs ranked ninth, and athlete Keith Law made him stand out in #21.
All evaluators generally agree that there is ACE potential here. Hernandez sat together with his fastball in the mid-90s and could push triple digits. His changes and curve balls are considered great weapons. His sliders are inconsistent, but can develop into another useful tone in time. He may also be a viable batsman/shortstop prospect, although his pitching potential is so strong that he agrees that he should be on the mound. Bucs declared him a right-handed pitcher, so that seems to be their idea too.
Contrary to any specific criticism from Hernandez, Law’s bearishness seems to be more about high school pitchers. “However, given their high churn rate, the history of high school pitchers is frustrating and as talented as Hernandez, he is still in the same category. There are at least a second-place starter here, but here any high school party risk has any high school party risk, but they are hurt or have no commands and controls for majors.” ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel mentioned in his Hernandez that some clubs will never get the right preparation for the first ten draft picks.
On the more optimistic side, the BA article says Hernandez’s talent ranks alongside recent prep drafts Hunter Green,,,,, Mackenzie Gore and Jackson Jobe. Green and Gore ranked second and third respectively in the 2017 draft. Both are now a strong major league and a quarrel-to-play trump card. Jobe ranked third overall in 2021, but still has a limited record. Since he recently needed Tommy John’s surgery, he wasn’t able to build it soon either. However, he has become one of the most important pitching prospects in the sport before this year.
The Pirates didn’t do a good job, but they had a much stronger job in pitching. Their rotation currently has local pitchers Paul Skynis,,,,, Mitch Keller and Mike Burrows. If he has not recovered from the surgery at this time, Jared Jones It will be there too. Bubba Chandler One of the best pitching prospects right now, he is pitching in a triple spin. Tom Harrington and Hunter Barco Also famous in Indianapolis with Chandler in Pittsburgh drafters in Indianapolis.
Hernandez is still very young, only 19 years old less than a month ago. It might take him a few years, but he naturally wants to follow this path. “He pushed yesterday,” Hernandez said of Colin Beazley of Pittsburgh Post. “He might push him for the rest of his life. It would be great if I could follow in his footsteps.”
Photo courtesy of Charles Leclaire, image
