The Royals optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Hernandez didn't make his season debut for the Royals until last week after recovering from a shoulder injury and has allowed one run with a 1:3 K:BB over 2.2 innings covering four appearances. He'll likely be back with the big club sooner rather than later, but the Royals needed to free up a roster spot for Daniel Lynch, who was called up from Omaha to make a spot start Thursday versus the Twins.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Clean inning in season debut
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Hernandez pitched a perfect inning in Friday's 8-1 win over the Rays.
Hernandez got three straight flyouts from Jonathan Aranda, Randy Arozarena and Jose Caballero to finish off the lopsided game. Hernandez missed nearly two months to begin 2024 as well as all of spring training due to a pinched nerve in his right shoulder. He pitched to an 8.22 ERA, 1.94 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB over 7.2 innings during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha, though he kept runs off the board in five of his last six outings before he was activated. The Royals' bullpen has been OK this year, with James McArthur and John Schreiber leading the way for high-leverage opportunities, so Hernandez is likely to be eased in for his first few appearances.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Back from injured list
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The Royals reinstated Hernandez (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Hernandez was shut down at the start of spring training due to a pinched nerve in his right shoulder, but he's ready to join the Royals after an eight-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. The right-hander recorded four saves and 17 holds last season but had a 5.27 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 70 innings.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Sent out on rehab assignment
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Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Omaha's game Friday was rained out, but Hernandez should be expected to make a few rehab outings with the club over the next few weeks as he looks to get up to speed. The right-hander missed all of spring training due to a right shoulder impingement.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Nearing rehab assignment
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Hernandez (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment later this week, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez has been throwing since mid-March and is now nearly ready for game action. Given how long he's been out, he'll likely need a handful of rehab outings to get up to speed. Hernandez figures to enter the high-leverage mix fairly quickly once he's healthy, as the Royals' top late-inning options have ranged from fine (James McArthur, John Schreiber) to awful (Will Smith) early in the season.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Bullpen scheduled Wednesday
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Hernandez (shoulder) threw a bullpen session over the weekend and is scheduled for another Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez landed on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a right shoulder impingement that kept him out of spring training. If Wednesday's session goes well, the right-hander could be cleared to start facing hitters next week, and then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment soon thereafter. Hernandez posted a 5.27 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 77:31 K:BB over 70 innings with the Royals last season.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Lands on 15-day injured list
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The Royals placed Hernandez on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right shoulder impingement.
Hernandez missed all of spring training with the shoulder issue. He resumed mound work about a week ago, but there's no timetable for his return to the active roster.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Set for bullpen session
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Hernandez (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez has been throwing for nearly two weeks, but this appears to be an increase in intensity. The right-hander's status for Opening Day remains up in the air, but it doesn't seem likely he'll be ready to begin the season.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Light bullpen session this weekend
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Hernandez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a light bullpen session this weekend, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez has been playing catch the last few days and will do so again Tuesday before progressing to some mound work shortly thereafter. The Royals have not ruled the reliever out for Opening Day yet, but it seems unlikely that he'll have time to ramp things back up by then.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Begins throwing progression
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Hernandez (shoulder) played catch over the weekend and will do so again Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez was shut down from throwing after a cortisone injection in late February. He's now beginning to ramp up again, though it still seems likely he'll have to miss part of the regular season. Hernandez is likely to join the Royals' bullpen once he's up to speed.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Shut down from throwing
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Hernandez (shoulder) received a cortisone injection Tuesday and has been shut down from throwing, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander threw a bullpen session Saturday, but his sore right shoulder didn't respond well after resting for the previous two weeks. It's unclear when Hernandez will resume throwing, but his availability for Opening Day is now very much in question.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Throws bullpen session
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Hernandez (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Saturday's session marked the first time Hernandez has thrown off a mound in two weeks as he works his way back from right shoulder soreness. The Royals kept the intensity relatively low to begin with, and Hernandez will require several more mound sessions before potentially returning to play in spring training games.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Recovering from sore shoulder
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Hernandez hasn't thrown off a mound in two weeks because of right shoulder soreness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The good news is that Hernandez is expected to be cleared for a bullpen session soon and should still be able to get in enough work before the end of spring training. The hard-throwing right-hander had a terrific first half and dreadful second half in 2023 and will be trying to work his way back into high-leverage appearances.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Avoids arbitration
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Hernandez agreed to a one-year contract with the Royals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
The 26-year-old righty has a career 4.90 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 126 strikeouts in 123 innings as a reliever after not panning out as a starter. Hernandez notched four saves and averaged 99 mph on his fastball last season, but he probably won't be the go-to option at closer, barring several injuries ahead of him on the depth chart.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Grabs fourth save
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Hernandez picked up the save in Tuesday's 11-10 victory over the White Sox. He allowed one run on a hit and a walk while striking out one over one inning.
Hernandez allowed a run for a fourth straight appearance, though he'd manage to hang on to a one-run lead Tuesday, earning his fourth save. It's been a tough run for Hernandez, who's allowed six runs in his last 2.2 innings while blowing two saves in that span. His ERA is up to 4.87 with a 1.21 WHIP and 75:26 K:BB this season. While Hernandez should still see high-leverage work in Kansas City, it's hard to trust him for fantasy purposes.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Takes 10th loss
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Hernandez (1-10) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks over one-third of an inning, taking the loss and a blown save Friday versus the Blue Jays.
Austin Cox started the eighth inning but sustained a left knee injury after facing two batters. Hernandez proceeded to allow an inherited runner to score before getting tagged for three runs himself. He has three blown saves and two saves over his last seven appearances, a span in which he's allowed six runs over six innings. He's at a 4.81 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 74:25 K:BB with three saves, 12 holds and five blown saves through 63.2 innings this season. Hernandez should continue to see high-leverage looks, but the quality of his performance of late puts him on the fantasy fringe.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Takes blown save, loss
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Hernandez (1-9) allowed a run on a two hits over one-third of an inning, taking the loss and a blown save Tuesday versus the Pirates.
Austin Cox left a man on base in the eighth inning and Hernandez surrendered a two-run home run to Ke'Bryan Hayes. Hernandez's uneven August -- 8.68 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 2-for-4 in save chances -- has prevented him from outright claiming the closer role that opened up when Scott Barlow was traded to San Diego. Hernandez has a 4.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 73:22 K:BB through 62.1 innings overall while adding three saves, 12 holds and four blown saves this season.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Notches five-out save
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Hernandez picked up the save in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Oakland, striking out one over 1.2 scoreless innings.
Hernandez was able to strand the bases loaded after coming on with one out in the eighth inning before closing out the A's in the ninth to earn his third save. The 26-year-old Hernandez has now converted his last two save chances after allowing three runs in his previous two appearances (1.1 innings). He now sports a 4.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 73:21 K:BB across 61 innings this season. Hernandez should see the majority of closing chances going forward in Kansas City, though the left-handed Austin Cox could see opportunities as well, depending on matchups.
Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Holds on to collect save
Rotowire
Hernandez held on for his second save of the season Friday versus the Cubs. He gave up one hit and one walk while striking out two.
On to try to preserve a one-run victory, the righty allowed a one-out single to Nico Hoerner but lucked out when the Cubs infielder was thrown out attempting to stretch it to a double. Hernandez then issued a two-out walk but struck out Cody Bellinger swinging to end the night. The Royals have two saves as a team since trading Scott Barlow, with Hernandez securing one and left-hander Austin Cox the other. Hernandez looks like the best bet to close the rest of the way, although manager Matt Quatraro might not settle on one guy.
