Hernández is from Puerto Plata, where he grew up playing baseball and basketball.[1]
Career
Los Angeles Dodgers
On May 12, 2016, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Hernández as an international free agent.[2] He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Dodgers.[3] Returning to the DSL Dodgers in 2017, he recorded a 6–2 record and 2.52 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 64+1⁄3 innings pitched across 15 appearances (14 starts).[3] For the 2018 season, he played with the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, registering a 2–1 record and 2.96 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 27+1⁄3 innings pitched over 15 games.[4]
After missing the 2019 season because of injury, Hernández did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] In his return season, he made 32 appearances split between the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and High-A Great Lakes Loons, posting a 3–2 record and 4.37 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 45+1⁄3 innings pitched.[3] In 2022, Hernández played High-A Great Lakes and the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, accumulating a 4–4 record and 3.32 ERA with 69 strikeouts and eight saves in 59+2⁄3 innings pitched.[3]
Pittsburgh Pirates
On December 7, 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Hernández from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 draft.[2] He made the Pirates’ Opening Day roster out of spring training in 2023[6] and made his debut with one scoreless inning of relief on April 1 against the Cincinnati Reds.[7] His first MLB strikeout was of Christian Arroyo of the Boston Red Sox on April 4.[8] In 50 relief outings during his rookie campaign, Hernández recorded a 4.97 ERA with 62 strikeouts across 50+2⁄3 innings pitched.[9]
Hernandez was optioned to the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians prior to the 2024 season, but made the Opening Day roster after pitcher Roansy Contreras was placed on the MLB paternity list.[10] In his first appearance of the season, Hernandez pitched a scoreless 12th inning to notch his first career save in a against the Miami Marlins.[11] In seven games for the Pirates, he recorded a 3.38 ERA with four strikeouts across 5+1⁄3 innings pitched. On June 11, he was designated for assignment.[12]
Los Angeles Dodgers (second stint)
On June 13, 2024, Hernández was traded back to the Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations.[13] He was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the minor leagues on July 17.[14] He pitched three scoreless innings on a rehab assignment for the Arizona Complex League Dodgers and then 18 innings for the Triple–A Oklahoma City Baseball Club, where he allowed nine earned runs for a 4.50 ERA.[3]