Atlanta Braves: Updated Top 10 Pitching Prospects (Post-Draft)
By Seth Carter
No. 8 Atlanta Braves Pitching Prospect – Daysbel Hernandez, RHP
Fastball: 65
Slider: 50
Control: 45
Overall: 45
Daysbell Hernandez has “bullpen” written all over him. He’s got a fastball that can reach 99 mph with movement Jerry! He also has a slider that sits in the high-80s. He may only command two pitches, but that is all he needs.
He’s a 5-10, 220-pound bulldog, signed out of Cuba, and entering his age-23 season after lighting up Florida State League with 12 strikeouts per nine innings. He led the Fire Frogs in Ks per nine among pitchers with more than 13.2 innings pitched.
In the video below, you can see the blazing, tailing fastball at work.
In just his second season in the Braves organization, Hernandez assumed a late-inning role in High-A Florida. He pitched in 52.2 innings for the Fire Frogs and walked a reasonable 23 batters while striking out 70. He finished with a 1.71 ERA and earned seven saves.
As is usually the case with minor leaguers, they need to develop a pitch or two and work on control. His slider needs some work and his command is coming along. In 2018, he walked over five batters per nine innings. In 2019, he lowered that to 3.93 while raising his K/9 to an elite 11.96.
Relievers who strike out 12 batters per nine can afford 3.93 walks per nine. Hernandez is an arm to keep an eye on as he faces stiffer competition in Double-A and Triple-A. He could be a back-end set-up guy in the majors someday.