During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Miguel Andujar to pitcher Bryse Wilson.

Player: Jose Hernandez

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Left

Age: 24 (Dec. 31)

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 205 pounds

2022 MLB statistics: None.

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: Selected from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft.

This past season: Signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent in May 2016, Hernadez began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League and slowly rose their minor league ranks.

Hernandez averaged 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings in the minors while compiling a 17-10 record with a 3.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, nine saves and a .223 batting average against.

Jose Hernandez had another scoreless outing today for the High A Great Lakes Loons and has not allowed a run in his last 8 outings. There was no video of today's game, but here is a video showing his mix of 94-96 fastball, 89 cutter, 84 change, and 83 sweeping slider. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/khBd64ZZex

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) May 10, 2022

Hernandez started the season by serving as closer for their High-A affiliate, Great Lakes, where he was 1-2 with a 2.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, eight saves, 22 strikeouts and seven walks with one home run in 21 innings over 15 appearances. Over his final 13 games, Hernadez had a .156 batting average against and 0.98 WHIP.

Jose Hernandez hit 99 with his fastball, then threw 3 consecutive 98s, then finished the inning by dropping a hammer. Impressive Stuff! He hasn't allowed a run in his last 3 outings, 8 out of his last 9, & 12 out of his last 14. He has 21 Ks to just 4 walks this month. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/MWON2a9tgT

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) September 4, 2022

Hernandez was promoted to Double-A Tusla on May 28, where he went 3-2 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, 47 strikeouts against 18 walks but allowed seven home runs in 38 2/3 innings over 36 appearances. Over his final 15 outings, Hernandez recorded a 2.93 ERA, 26 strikeouts, a .135 batting average against and a 1.04 WHIP.

Looking to add both a left-hander and some swing-and-miss action to their bullpen, the Pirates agreed to terms with Jarlin Garcia on Dec. 6 and used the third pick of the Rule 5 Draft to take Hernandez a day later.

At the Winter Meetings, Cherington expressed excitement to work with Hernandez, calling him an “athlete who we’ve seen really recent improvement on and improvement with.”

Jose Hernandez was hitting 99 consistently with his fastball in his 1.1 scoreless innings for Tulsa. Hernandez has gone scoreless in 7 of his last 8 outings and 12 of his last 14. Since the beginning of July, he has 28 Ks in 16.2 innings. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/z02P7Yulys

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) September 17, 2022

The future: The Pirates didn’t have much luck in the Rule 5 Draft under Cherington in 2021, as top pick Jose Soriano underwent Tommy John surgery and right-hander Luis Oviedo went 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA, 1.99 WHIP, 31 strikeouts and 26 walks before being waived.

By contrast, No. 3 pick Akil Baddoo slashed .259/.330/.436 with 20 doubles, seven triples, 13 home runs and 55 RBIs in 124 games as a rookie outfielder for Detroit and No. 4 pick Garrett Whitlock has a 3.16 ERA in 32 relief appearances over two seasons with Boston.

The Rule 5 Draft was a bit of a disaster for the Pirates this year. They lost only catcher/outfielder Blake Sabol in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 draft this year but had 11 players, including nine pitchers, selected in the minor-league phase.

“When we got through the major-league phase, I felt relatively good,” Cherington said at the Winter Meetings. “Then the minor-league phases started and the numbers piled up.”

Hernandez didn’t rank among the Dodgers’ top 30 prospects but raised eyebrows by touching triple digits on his four-seam fastball last summer and pairing it with a slider that drew a 60% whiff rate. He also has a changeup in his repertoire but leans mostly on fastballs and sliders.

Rule 5 regulations require Hernandez to remain on the active roster all season or be returned to the Dodgers, so the Pirates will attempt to find a role for him.

“(He throws) enough strikes that we’ll give him a chance to compete for a job in the bullpen in spring training,” Cherington said. “Given the athleticism and improvement last season, we think there may be more there.”

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