Rule 5 Draft Prospect Profile: Raul Hernandez
Looking at many of the Pirates catching prospects in the system, they are defensive first type of players. At a position where defense is key, it is hard to find someone talented on both sides of the baseball. When catcher Raul Hernandez was signed by the Pirates out of Venezuela, he was exactly the opposite of the other Pirates catching signees. He was very good with the bat, but his defense needed some work if he wanted to become a true professional catching prospect. His defense has begun to improve every single year, and now he is sitting at about league average in fielding while still hitting the ball at a good clip.
Hernandez has the offensive skills that the guys above him in the depth chart are lacking, and that could help him climb the Pirates Minor League ladder. However, as his defense comes around, it makes him that much more of an intriguing option for teams around the MLB. 2020 will mark Hernandez's second year being eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and another opportunity for teams to snatch him up. He was hurt by not having a 2020 Minor League season, but he continued to work in his home country of Venezuela so that he can stay on track for a call-up to Double-A Altoona in 2021. The question is, will the Pirates protect Hernandez or will another team swoop in and try to build on Hernandez's success.
From Offensive Juggernaut to Defensive Upside
Hernandez's impressive bat was what got him signed during the 2015 season and placed him on the Dominican Summer League Pirates. He assumed the starting catcher role and fook off offensively hitting .304 with 19 RBI in 148 at-bats. He led the team in batting average during that first season and finished second with 34 walks. He didn't show much home run power, but he racked up extra-base hits left and right finishing fourth on the team with 11 doubles. However, his defense behind the plate was raw other than the fact he had a cannon of an arm. He threw out 31 would-be base stealers good for half of all those who attempted. But, he allowed 17 passed balls and committing 11 errors behind the plate.
He ended up making the move to the states to start the 2016 season but saw his average drop. He appeared in 25 games for the Gulf Coast League Pirates and hit just .222 with three home runs and 16 RBI. He continued his great plate discipline walking 11 times, but he wasn't putting the bat on the ball on a consistent basis. He only had five extra-base hits all season including two doubles. His defense improved as his fielding percentage raised to .975 and he committed just four errors and allowed five passed balls with GCL. When injuries occurred at the Major League level, it gave Hernandez an opportunity, getting promoted to Low-A West Virginia and then Advanced-A Bradenton by seasons end. He ended the year hitting just .195 overall and had to go back to the drawing board offensively.
2017 saw Hernandez continue to move up and down the Pirates system as he began the year with Class-A Short Season West Virginia. He showed improvement hitting .259, but drove in just three RBI in his first 18 games. However, he dealt with his first injury stint missing about a month and a half of the season. After rehabbing in rookie ball, Hernandez rejoined the Black Bears before finishing the year with the West Virginia Power again finishing the year with a .188 batting average. It was with the Power he would stay in 2018, and everything finally started clicking at the plate.
He has his best season as a professional baseball player hitting .325 with a home run and 22 RBI. He set a new career-high with 12 doubles and collected 52 hits on the season. He came into his own as a starting catcher at the Low-A level putting up a .973 fielding percentage and committing just five errors in 204 innings of work. But, the injury bug struck again and Hernandez went on the Disabled List with a concussion. Upon his return, he got some reps at first base to try and limit his injury risk on the field and he took the move in stride posting a .988 fielding percentage in eight games played. With his offense seemingly back on track, the Pirates took a chance and promoted the catcher to Advanced-A Bradenton.
He once again stepped into the starting catcher's role with the Marauders and couldn't reach the high he had in 2018. He hit just .247 that season with no home runs and 19 RBI. In a league that tends to favor the pitchers, Hernandez's drop in batting average was expected, but he continued to show that extra-base hit ability. His 14 doubles were tied for fourth on the team, but he could not muster a home run that season. His defense was the best it had ever been as he posted a .985 fielding percentage and threw out 30% of would-be based stealers. With the runners getting faster and smarter, Hernandez continues to show off his cannon while trying to become more consistent on offense.
Keeping Hernandez in Pittsburgh
With 2020 marking the second season that Hernandez has been eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, I don't see any team taking a chance on the catcher. He has been too inconsistent on the offensive side of the ball, and his defense is just starting to come around consistently. He might be a good Minor League depth option for a team, but he is nowhere near Big League ready at this point in his career. At 24-years old, his time is ticking to have that break-out season and 2021 might be the year he shows whether or not he is a true catching prospect for the Pirates or an MLB pretender.
After being the starting catcher for both the Power and Marauders over the last two seasons, look for Hernandez to assume that role once again with the Altoona Curve in 2021. He and Arden Pabst will be fighting for reps at the position and whichever one can show the offensive side of his game more could win the position. Hernandez has shown an ability to do it in the past and a breakout 2021 could be just what the doctor ordered for the young catcher. The Pirates need one of their prospects to show something soon and for Hernandez, it could be his time to step up as the top catching prospect in the organization.
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