The Braves are taking another swing at bolstering their pitching depth, signing right-hander Elieser Hernandez to a minor league deal back in November. It’s a low-risk move with some upside, especially for a team that’s made a habit of stockpiling arms with big league experience heading into spring training.
Hernandez is no stranger to Atlanta. During his five-year run with the Marlins from 2018 to 2022, he logged 287 2/3 innings and posted a 5.04 ERA, bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen. The Braves saw plenty of him during that stretch, and while the results were uneven, there were flashes of potential - particularly in his ability to miss bats.
After Miami shipped him to the Mets in late 2022, Hernandez’s time in New York never really got off the ground. Injuries derailed his 2023 campaign, and he didn’t make a single appearance at the Major League level. From there, it was a whirlwind: short stints with the Dodgers and Brewers in 2024, totaling just 15 2/3 innings before he opted for free agency again.
Looking to reset, Hernandez took his game overseas, signing with the LG Twins of the KBO League in July 2024. That move seemed to help him find some rhythm.
Over 113 innings across the 2024 and 2025 KBO seasons, he posted a 4.14 ERA with a solid 27.17% strikeout rate and a manageable 8.5% walk rate. That performance was enough to earn him another shot stateside, this time with the Blue Jays - though his time in Triple-A Buffalo didn’t go as planned.
He was tagged for a 7.91 ERA in just 19 1/3 innings, struggling to regain the form he showed overseas.
In total, Hernandez has logged 303 1/3 innings in the Majors with a 5.10 ERA, a 21.8% strikeout rate, and a 7.6% walk rate. The biggest thorn in his side?
The long ball. He’s given up 73 home runs in his big league career - a number that’s hard to ignore given his innings total.
That susceptibility has limited his ability to hold down a consistent role, whether as a starter or in long relief.
That said, there are reasons to believe there’s still something to work with here. Hernandez showed better home run suppression in the KBO and even during his brief time with the Jays’ system. The Braves clearly see enough to bring him into camp, where he’ll compete alongside a group of veteran arms also trying to carve out a role.
What gives Hernandez a fighting chance is his versatility. He’s capable of starting, and that alone could earn him a look at Triple-A Gwinnett if he shows well this spring. Atlanta already has a deep stable of starter-capable pitchers, but in today’s game, you can never have too many arms ready to step in when the inevitable injuries and innings limits start to pile up.
For now, Hernandez is a depth piece - but he’s one with Major League experience, strikeout stuff, and a fresh perspective after a stint abroad. The Braves are betting there’s still something left in the tank.