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The Dodgers have passed left-handed pitcher Jose Hernandez through outright waivers and assigned him to their Rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona Complex League, according to the team’s transaction log on MLB.com. Hernandez had been pitching in the ACL to build up after a period of inactivity following his acquisition from Pittsburgh. This move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster, likely for pitching prospect River Ryan, who is set to make his MLB debut this weekend.
At 26 years old, Hernandez signed with the Dodgers from the Dominican Republic in 2016. After spending seven years in the Dodgers’ system, he was selected by the Pirates in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft. Hernandez pitched for the Pirates in 2023, throwing 50 2/3 innings with a 4.97 ERA, a 27.8% strikeout rate, and a 9.9% walk rate.
Despite being allowed to be optioned in future seasons, Hernandez only pitched 5 1/3 innings in seven MLB appearances this season. He struggled with the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis, giving up a dozen runs in 15 1/3 innings with decreased velocity. After being designated for assignment by the Bucs in June, he was traded back to the Dodgers for cash.
Now, the Dodgers can retain Hernandez in their system as depth without using a 40-man roster spot. Although he has had a challenging 2024 season, his K-BB profile from last year in the majors showed promise. In 2022, his strikeout and walk rates were similar to what he had in his last full minor league season with the Dodgers, where he posted a 3.32 ERA. While his decreased velocity this year is a concern, there is still potential for him to become a reliable bullpen option in the future.
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