Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Out with shoulder injury
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Hernandez has been left off the Rangers' AL Wild Card Series roster due to a shoulder injury, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Hernandez had an up-and-down 2023 season but finished with five straight scoreless appearances, so this is a hit to a bullpen that can ill afford it. Whether Hernandez could potentially be ready should the Rangers advance to the ALDS is unclear.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Rejoins big club
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Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
The right-hander was optioned to Round Rock in late August but will rejoin the Rangers on Wednesday with Max Scherzer (shoulder) headed for the injured list. Hernandez has struggled to a 6.45 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 25:14 K:BB across 22.1 big-league innings this season.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Optioned back to minors
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Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
Hernandez will head back to the minors following his meltdown in the 13th inning of a 7-6 loss to the Twins on Sunday, when he issued three straight walks to force in the winning run. Glenn Otto was recalled from Triple-A and will take his spot in the bullpen.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Returns to Texas bullpen
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Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
Hernandez has been ineffective in 21.2 major-league innings this season, struggling to a 6.65 ERA, a mark which more than doubles the 3.23 career ERA he owned prior to that point. His 1.35 ERA at the Triple-A level is far more encouraging, but it comes with a 16.5 percent walk rate. Grant Anderson was optioned in a corresponding move.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Heads to Triple-A
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The Rangers optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
Hernandez entered the season as a candidate for saves, but he's struggled to a 6.65 ERA over 25 appearances out of the bullpen. He'll look to get back on track in the minors before Texas considers calling him back up.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Throws scoreless inning
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Hernandez allowed two hits and struck out two over a scoreless inning in Monday's 6-4 loss to the Pirates.
Hernandez finished the game following another Texas bullpen meltdown. The fact Hernandez wasn't one of the culprits gives the club a sliver of hope he's getting over a recent stretch of poor results. Expected to be an eighth-inning bridge, Hernandez had allowed eight runs (three home runs) over his last 1.2 innings. This was the second consecutive outing in which he did not pitch in a high-leverage situation.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Walked off Wednesday
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Hernandez (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits and did not retire a batter, picking up his first loss in Wednesday's game against the Reds.
Texas was swept by Cincinnati in a series that featured shaky bullpen performances. The relief crew had been strong for the Rangers, but on three consecutive days, several members of the group allowed the Reds to take leads in the eighth inning or later, including two walkoff wins. Hernandez entered the day with a 1.80 ERA over his first 10 outings before Nick Senzel's game-ending, two-run home run.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Provides relief in win
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Hernandez allowed one walk and struck out two over two-thirds of an inning in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Astros.
While the final score indicates a blowout, Hernandez and Will Smith provided expert high-leverage relief work in the seventh inning, as Houston loaded the bases with none out and Texas leading, 6-0. Hernandez struck out Martin Maldonado and Mauricio Dubon before walking in a run. It wasn't officially a hold, but it felt like one. Hernandez has allowed two runs, three hits and three walks while striking out eight over six innings. The right-hander will continue to pitch in late-game scenarios and could get an occasional save chance.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Could be in closer mix
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Rangers GM Chris Young said Saturday that Hernandez "could be a closer" for the club in 2023, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Jose Leclerc, who finished 2022 as Texas' closer, is likely the current frontrunner for the job and was the first of many names mentioned by Young, but Hernandez was the next man brought up by the new GM. Hernandez returned from a lengthy absence last season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and had a 2.97 ERA with four saves across 30.1 innings, but he struggled with his command at times and had a 13.0 percent walk rate. The right-hander may not open 2023 as the Rangers' primary closer, but Hernandez should have a high-leverage role and is likely to receive some save chances at some point.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Settles at $1.275 million
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Hernandez signed a one-year, $1.275 million contract with the Rangers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Recovery from a Tommy John procedure in April 2021 kept Hernandez from playing last season until mid-July, but he was effective after he returned. In 30.1 innings, he recorded a 2.97 ERA and 1.42 WHIP -- good enough to keep him in a setup role to start 2023.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Implodes for blown save
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Hernandez (1-1) blew the save and took the loss against the Red Sox on Thursday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks while recording only one out (on a strikeout).
The Rangers carried a three-run lead into the ninth inning, and they turned to Hernandez to slam the door. The righty reliever clearly didn't have his best stuff, as he threw only 14 of 26 pitches for strikes and walked the first two batters he faced. Boston followed with a pair of hits to plate two runs, and after Hernandez struck out J.D. Martinez and issued an intentional walk to Christian Arroyo, two more Red Sox hits plated the tying and winning runs. Hernandez entered the contest with a 1.69 ERA, but that number ballooned to 3.86 following his first loss and first blown save of the campaign.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Throws eighth inning
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Hernandez struck out one over a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold in Friday's 7-6 win over the Tigers.
Hernandez has been the primary closer for the Rangers since late July, but interim manager Tony Beasley had the right-hander pitch the eighth inning in what was heading to be a save situation -- the Rangers were leading 7-4. Instead, Beasley left the ninth inning for Jose Leclerc, who allowed a pair runs while converting the save. It was the second time this week that Beasley skipped Hernandez for a save -- Matt Moore closed out a win Monday.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Picks up extra-inning win
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Hernandez (1-0) earned the extra-inning win Saturday over the Twins. He allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out one over two innings.
Hernandez was kept in the game for the 10th inning after pitching a scoreless ninth. The right-hander walked Carlos Correa, got two outs, allowed a run to score on an error and then got Jose Miranda to fly out to end the threat. This was Hernandez's first win in 12 appearances this year, and he's maintained a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB through 12 innings. He's functioned as the head of the Rangers' closer committee with Joe Barlow (finger) out -- Hernandez has four saves, all since July 31, and Jose Leclerc is the only other reliever on the team to log a save in that span.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Earns fourth save Monday
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Hernandez picked up the save in Monday's 2-1 win over the Athletics. He threw a perfect inning with two strikeouts.
The 26-year-old has emerged as the top option for the Rangers in the ninth inning with Joe Barlow and Dennis Santana on the shelf and Brett Martin failing to get the job done. Hernandez has recorded four saves since July 31 and owns a healthy 2.45 ERA in 11 innings this season. Hernandez should continue to be the top option to close out games for Texas as long as the bullpen remains hampered, and perhaps beyond.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Shuts door for third save
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Hernandez pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in a 7-4 victory over the Mariners on Saturday.
Hernandez continues to look good as the Texas closer. He now has three saves since July 31 and has pitched well this season with a 1.10 WHIP over 10 appearances. Rangers manager Chris Woodward will likely keep handing him the ball as long as he remains effective, although former closer Joe Barlow (finger) could be a factor again once he's activated from the IL.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Notches first save
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Hernandez saved Sunday's 5-2 win against the Angels, striking out one in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Manager Chris Woodward turned to Hernandez for his fifth appearance of the campaign after Texas took the lead in the top of the ninth, and the 26-year-old delivered an easy frame. Texas has featured a revolving door at closer of late and Hernandez may be the new favorite, as he's permitted four baserunners with four strikeouts across five scoreless innings this season.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Walks two in rehab debut
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Hernandez (elbow) walked two and struck out one over two-thirds of a scoreless inning for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
Hernandez kicked off a rehab assignment with the Express, his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2021. The right-hander had been a starter in the minors but served as high-leverage reliever for the Rangers prior to his injury. It's not yet clear now many rehab appearances he'll need before he's ready to be activated from the 60-day injured list.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Rehab assignment at Triple-A
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Hernandez (elbow) was sent to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday for a rehab assignment.
He underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2021 and is now almost 14 months removed from the procedure. The rehab assignment will likely be lengthy, but once healthy, Hernandez should join the big-league bullpen.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Appears in extended spring game
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Hernandez (elbow) tossed a scoreless inning Tuesday in his appearance at an extended spring training game, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Fellow rehabbing reliever Jose Leclerc (elbow) also made an appearance Tuesday, but he's already been pitching in games for about a week and should be ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as next week. Hernandez doesn't look to be too far behind Leclerc, with both tracking toward returns from the 60-day injured list at some point in June. With Joe Barlow having thus far converted all seven of his save chances, Hernandez isn't likely to challenge for the closing role once activated, but he could fill a key late-inning role for Texas.
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Rangers' Jonathan Hernandez: Trending toward June return
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Hernandez (elbow) is trending toward a return in mid-to-late June, Chris Halicke of SI.com reports.
Hernandez was thought to have a chance to close last season before a preseason elbow injury wound up requiring Tommy John surgery in April. He's said to be slightly behind teammate Jose Leclerc, who underwent the same procedure in late March. Either pitcher could push for the closer role in the second half, as presumptive favorite Joe Barlow is hardly an inner-circle option for the spot, though that would require them pitching at close to full strength immediately after returning to action.
