Carlos Hernandez Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

TRACK RECORD: Coming off a promising 2018 season at low Class A Lexington, Hernandez was ready to move up to the next level before breaking a rib during spring training. The hefty Venezuelan didn't get back on the mound for an official game until mid-June but finished with seven strong starts back at Lexington.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez's fastball sits 93-97 mph and regularly touches the high 90s, with at least one report of him up to 101 during instructs. He has an easy delivery that helps the ball explode out of his hand. The pitch is fairly true but benefits from solid downhill angle. All of Hernandez's secondary pitches—slider, curveball, changeup—are below-average now, although his 80-83 mph curveball flashes plus. He needs to improve the command and the quality of those pitches to keep hitters off-balance.

THE FUTURE: Hernandez will get a second chance to make the high Class A Wilmington squad. If the command and secondaries come together with experience, Hernandez could be a force either in the rotation or in the back end of the bullpen. The latter role is more likely. The Royals added Hernandez to the 40-man roster after the season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.