Seth Hernandez is not your typical 19-year-old. While many his age are wrapping up their freshman year of college, Hernandez is carving out a name for himself on the baseball diamond, and he's doing it in style.
In a standout performance, Hernandez became the first Minor Leaguer to notch 100 strikeouts this season. He achieved this milestone during High-A Greensboro's 5-2 victory over Rome at AdventHealth Stadium, reinforcing his status as MLB's No. 3 prospect.
Hernandez's latest outing was a display of his growing prowess. He struck out seven batters, conceding just one run on three hits and three walks over five innings. His recent form has been nothing short of spectacular, giving up only one run over his last three starts and amassing 17 strikeouts against six walks in 12 2/3 innings.
With this performance, Hernandez's ERA in the South Atlantic League dipped to 2.88, while his overall ERA stands at a remarkable 2.02 over 14 starts between Single-A Bradenton and Greensboro.
After a dazzling performance last Saturday, where he allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings, Hernandez continued his impressive run against Rome. Despite a few hiccups, including a wild pitch that cost him a run in the fourth inning, he bounced back with a flawless fifth inning, clinching his 100th strikeout with a devastating slider. He threw 82 pitches, 50 of which were strikes, leading to his sixth win in seven decisions.
Halfway through his rookie season, Hernandez, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 Draft, boasts an outstanding 0.99 WHIP, a 100/28 K/BB ratio, and is holding opponents to a meager .159 batting average across 62 1/3 innings. He's reclaimed the MiLB strikeout lead, surpassing Jackson Cox, who sits second with 96 strikeouts.
Although Hernandez faced some challenges early in the season, with a 4.15 ERA through his first five High-A outings, he's clearly found his groove. His recent performances suggest he's settling into the South Atlantic League quite comfortably.
Greensboro pitching coach Rafael Chaves noted, "I saw consistency within his delivery," drawing a comparison to his experience with Félix Hernández. It's high praise, but Seth Hernandez is proving he's up to the task, and the future looks bright for this young phenom.
In Other News...
Pirates Prospect Estuar Suero Just Became A Much Tougher Story To Swallow
Estuar Suero had been one of the more intriguing lower-level names in the Pirates system since coming over in the 2023 deadline deal with San Diego, a prospect whose appeal centered on raw power and the idea that there might still be something worth uncovering with more at-bats. Even with the interruptions, there was enough thump in the profile to keep him on the radar, which is why his absence from the field since April had already made him a difficult player to place on a development track.
Baseball America had recently added to that intrigue by tagging Suero as a name to watch and noting his 60-grade power, a reminder of why the Pirates had reason to stay patient. But the latest turn leaves the organization with a very different kind of question surrounding a player whose career has been sidetracked more by availability than opportunity, and whose next step is no longer part of the usual prospect conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Fans May Hate Where Ben Cherington Momentum Is Heading
Ben Cheringtons standing in Pittsburgh has rarely been simple, but the latest stretch has at least given the front office some real momentum to point to. He is under contract through 2027, and the Pirates have been better in several meaningful areas despite the injuries that have kept testing their depth, including improved run production, stronger work from the rotation and a better run differential. Cherington has also been active in trying to upgrade the roster, with the bullpen still a clear area of focus as the club keeps trying to move from encouraging to truly competitive.
The more interesting part is where all of this can lead if the Pirates keep trending in the right direction. With discussions ongoing around how to push the roster forward, the organization is weighing not just immediate help but the longer-term structure of the front office as well. For a fan base that has spent plenty of time looking for progress signs, the possibility of the current build getting even more institutional backing is the kind of development that can change the temperature around the entire season. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Jones Sounds Off As Pirates Fears Start To Grow
Jared Jones return from internal brace surgery has been bumpy enough that the numbers are starting to tell the story for the Pirates. Through six starts back, he owns a 5.76 ERA over 25 innings, with hitters batting .270 against him and a 1.44 WHIP, and his latest outing against the Reds only added to the concern. He gave up four runs in all, including a solo home run, and the kind of shaky fifth inning that can turn a manageable night into one the pitcher wants back.
Jones did not try to hide the fact that he is searching for answers, even as he maintained that his velocity and movement are still where he wants them. The stuff is there, but the results have lagged, and for a Pirates rotation trying to find stability, that gap is getting harder to ignore. How quickly Jones can turn those tools into consistent outs will shape whether this is a temporary setback or something more unsettling. [Read more 🡒]