No. 19: Ronald Hernandez, C
B/T: S/R Age: 10/23/2003 (20)
Ht: 5’11” Wt: 155 lbs
Acquired: Via trade during 2023 season (David Robertson)
ETA: 2026 Previous Rank: N/A
2023 Stats (FCL/St. Lucie): .274/.452/.423, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 53 BB, 50 SO
Ronald Hernandez, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Hernandez was acquired by the Mets days before the trade deadline during the 2023 season, heading from the Marlins with Marco Vargas for closer David Robertson. Despite being a talented prospect, Hernandez was overlooked in that trade with much of the praise directed towards the Mets’ acquisition of Vargas. But still just 20 years old, Hernandez has plenty of room to grow and is an exciting player in the Mets’ system.
Hernandez was traded to the Mets with a slash of .298/.464/.452/.916 in rookie ball. Following the trade, he performed even better – recording a line of .286/.509/.486/.995 OPS in 53 at-bats. He then was promoted to Low-A St. Lucie where he struggled much more, recording just a .575 OPS in 39 at-bats. It’s a small sample size, but it’s clear that it was tough to adjust following a successful run in rookie ball.
When looking at Hernandez’s stats, it’s clear to see that he’s a plus hitter with a fantastic eye. In rookie ball for both the Mets and Marlins, he recorded more walks than strikeouts and had an on-base percentage through the roof. Hernandez also does well receiving behind the plate, as he possesses a 50-grade arm and 55-grade fielding on the 20-80 scale.
One part of his game that hasn’t fully developed yet is his power, as he hit just four home runs in 230 plate appearances in 2023. In fact, his power is graded a 40 on the 20-80 scale. He could certainly develop more pop with age and maturity as he is still just 20 years old and 155 pounds, however, it does not figure to be a large part of his game as much as his on-base and contact skills.
It’s tough in the present to see where Hernandez fits into the Mets’ future plans. Francisco Álvarez is 22-years-old and looks like the Mets’ catcher of the future. The Mets also have Kevin Parada, a 2022 first-round pick, and Yovanny Rodriguez, a 2023 international signing, next up on the prospect depth chart. Because of the significant depth, Hernandez may be a future trade piece, or look to transition to another position.
2024 Outlook
Hernandez hasn’t started the season splitting his time between catcher and first base for the Low-A St. Lucie Mets. The Mets will be hoping he can take the next step forward and crush it in Low-A ball like he did in rookie ball a season ago.
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