Three years ago, Darwinzon Hernandez was one of the most promising pitching prospects in the Red Sox’ system, then one of the team’s most effective relievers in his rookie season. On Friday, the club cut him loose.
Hernandez was designated for assignment Friday to clear a 40-man roster spot for newly signed infielder/designated hitter Justin Turner. The Red Sox will now have seven days to trade, release or waive Hernandez.
Hernandez was Boston’s No. 4 overall prospect in 2019 and debuted that May, making one start before being shifted to the bullpen on a full-time basis. The bulky southpaw largely impressed in that role for the Sox, pitching to a 3.95 ERA and striking out 50 batters in 27 ⅓ innings. He was then limited by injuries to just 8 ⅓ innings in the COVID-shortened season in 2020 before bouncing back with a strong 3.38 ERA showing (despite a 4.80 FIP) in 40 innings in 2021. Hernandez was somewhat surprisingly optioned to Triple-A to start 2022, then had knee surgery before finally getting his first big league chance of the season in July. He was rocked in limited major league action, allowing 16 earned runs in 6 ⅔ innings (21.60 ERA) and did not do much better at Triple-A (5.73 ERA).
Hernandez is still just 26 and has upside (his fastball and slider are both considered plus pitches) but control has always been an issue. In 85 ⅓ major league innings, he walked 73 batters (7.7 BB/9) and in the minors last season, he had 27 walks in 33 innings. It’s possible a team takes a flier on Hernandez either via trade or waiver claim in the next week.
Hernandez owns a 5.06 ERA and 133 strikeouts (14.0 K/9) in 91 major league appearances since debuting in 2019. He’s the latest notable Red Sox player to be lopped off the back end of the 40-man roster this winter, joining Tyler Danish, Franchy Cordero, Jeter Downs and Eric Hosmer. Boston still needs to clear another spot for the club’s reported addition of Corey Kluber, which has not yet been announced.