Jonathan Hernández…he and his wife, the former Danilca Cruz, were married on 12/27/18 and have two daughters, Esther Noemi (5/27/14) and Juliette Marie (2/7/23)…has made donations to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation…father, Fernando, pitched professionally for 14 seasons and appeared in two games with the Detroit Tigers in 1997…father also spent two seasons in Korea, winning 14 games with the SK Wyverns in 2001…was born in Memphis, Tenn., while his father pitched for the Double-A Memphis Chicks in the Padres farm system, but grew up in the Dominican Republic…favorite career memory is having his father witness his ML debut on 8/21/19 vs. LAA…enjoys vacationing in Puerto Rico and Mexico…likes to play Madden NFL and MLB The Show video games in his free time.
2023
Went 1-2, 5.40 ERA (19 ER/31.2 IP) with career-high 34 SO in 33 relief appearances spanning three stints with Texas (Opening Day-6/4, 8/26-27, 9/13-end of season)…sported a 1.80 ERA (2 ER/10.0 IP) over his first 10 appearances of the season, but permitted runs in six of next 15 G (10.80 ERA) to raise season ERA to 6.65…was optioned to Round Rock on 6/5…recalled to TEX on 8/26 and took loss in team’s 13-inning walk-off defeat on 8/27 at MIN (L, 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R-0 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO)…was optioned again on 8/28 before recall on 9/13 for season-ending stint, over which he registered a 2.89 ERA (3 ER/9.1 IP), including scoreless outings in six of his seven appearances in span, to lower season ERA from 6.45 to 5.40…did not see any postseason action due to strained right lat muscle sustained late in regular season…went 0-for-4 in save chances, but his 10 holds were third-most on club to Josh Sborz (14) and Brock Burke (12)...allowed 10 of 23 (43.5%) of inherited runners to score…opponents batted .280/.370/.432/.802 (35-125) against him, including opp. BA’s of .196 (9-46) vs. left-handed batters and .329 (26-79) vs. right-handed batters…improved strikeouts-per-9.0 figure from 8.01 (2022) to 9.66 (2023), but allowed career-high four HR…earned lone win despite blown save on 5/14 at OAK (W, BS, 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R-ER, 1 SO, 1 HR)…was on mound for three of Texas’ 10 walk-off defeats in 2023 (4/26 at CIN, 8/27 at MIN, 9/28 at SEA)…spent the balance of the season at Round Rock (AAA), posting a 1-1 record, two saves, a 1.13 ERA (4 ER/32.0 IP), and 21 walks/32 strikeouts across 24 games for the Express.
2022
In his return from ‘Tommy John’ surgery, joined bullpen in mid-July and posted 2-3 record, four saves and 2.97 ERA (10 ER/30.1 IP) in 29 G…allowed earned runs in just one of 17 G from 8/13-9/29, including span of 10 G/11.0 IP without allowing an ER (1 R-0 ER) from 9/4-29…his 24 app. from 8/1-end of season ranked as 3rd-most on staff…averaged 98.0 mph with his sinker, the highest avg. velocity on Texas’ staff and in 97th percentile in MLB (Statcast)…his SO/9 (8.01) and BB/9 (5.04) were both significant departures from his career averages entering the season, a product of his time missed following surgery…converted each of first four save tries from 7/31-8/15, but took blown save/losses in each of final two chances: 9/1 at BOS and 10/1 at LAA…in the loss at Fenway, permitted four runs while recording one out in the 9th after entering with an 8-5 lead… season debut on 7/16 vs. SEA was 1st MLB outing since 9/27/20 vs. HOU (657 days)...REHAB: On 60-day IL from Opening Day-7/15 as he returned from 4/12/21 ‘Tommy John’ ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow…combined to go 0-2, 3.60 (6 ER/15.0 IP) w/ 13 BB/16 SO over 16 relief app. on injury rehab assignment with Round Rock (AAA) and Frisco (AA) from 6/3-7/13.
2021
Spent the entire year on the 60-day IL, as he had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow performed by Rangers Team Physician Dr. Keith Meister on 4/12/21…is expected to be out through the beginning of the 2022 season…felt discomfort after live BP session on 3/6/21 at Nolan Ryan Field in Surprise…was shut down for four weeks, but opted for surgery after still having discomfort.
2020
Compiled a 1.032 WHIP figure and held opponents to .218/.290/.327/.618 slash line with just 2 HR allowed over 27 relief appearances...from 8/2-9/1, Hernández allowed runs in just 2 of 14 outings, going 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA (2 ER/17.1 IP) in that span along with just 3 BB and 19 SO… recorded team-high 5 holds and has still yet to have a save opportunity in his ML career...had 5 games finished...allowed 3 of 10 inherited runners to score...while his 9.00 SO/9 was lower than 2019 (10.26), saw a big improvement in SO/BB (3.88 in 2020 vs. 1.46 in 2019)…first batters faced went just 3-for-26 (.115) with 1 BB/8 SO...RH batters were 1-for29 start to the year, then went 12-for-36 (.333) the rest of the way…all outings had come in 7th inning or later before working 6th inning of 7-inning game 9/12 vs. OAK-G1... season-high 2.0 IP on both 8/2 at SF and 9/1 at HOU...held opponents homerless in 10 G/13.2 IP on the road…entered the year as the Rangers’ 13th-best (MLB.com) and 17th-best (Baseball America) prospect, and was also rated by Baseball America as having the organization’s Best Slider.
2019
The 23-year-old Hernández reached the Major Leagues for the first time in 2019, his seventh professional season…has worked primarily as a starter throughout his career, but switched to a relief role late last season with Double-A Frisco and also worked out of the bullpen upon his promotion to the big leagues…ranked T4th on Texas pitching staff with 19 strikeouts from 8/21 (ML Debut) through the end of the regular season, averaging 10.26 strikeouts per 9 innings (19 SO/16.2 IP) during that span…enters 2020 as club's 13th-best (MLB.com) and 17th-best prospect (Baseball America), and maintains his rookie status…owns a career 37-39 record, 3.80 ERA, and 1.320 WHIP figure over 129 games/113 starts in the minor leagues…is in big league camp for the third straight year...was signed out of the Dominican Republic at age 16 on 1/30/13.
2018
Established career highs in innings and strikeouts in his 6th professional season...his 134 SO ranked 2nd among Texas farmhands (138-A.J. Alexy)...named CL Pitcher of the Week for 5/28-6/3 following shutout performance on 5/30 vs. Buies Creek (8.0 SHO IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 11 SO)... recorded double-digit SO in 3 straight starts from 5/16-30, posting a 0.90 ERA (2 ER/20.0 IP) with 4 BB/32 SO in that span...earned promotion to Frisco on 6/11...went 2-4 with a 7.14 ERA (32 ER/40.1 IP) in 1st 8 G/GS with Frisco and went 2-0 with a 1.14 ERA (3 ER/23.2 IP) over final 4 G/GS...opponents batted .167/.270/.244/.513 over the latter stretch...increased whiff rate (9.9 SO/9) by a full strikeout from the previous campaign (8.9 SO/9 in '17)...rated by Baseball America as having CL's best breaking pitch and was named the publication's High Class A Pitcher of the Year.
2017
Combined to go 5-11 with a 4.03 ERA (50 ER/111.2 IP) over 23 games/22 starts with Hickory (A) and Down East (A+)…posted a career-best 8.9 SO/9 rate, besting his previous season total by over 2 strikeouts…opponents batted .285/.351/.415/.766…began season in Hickory and went 2-3 with a 2.80 ERA (11 ER/35.1 IP) over his 1st 7 starts with the club…permitted 14 R-ER over 11.0 IP in last 2 starts at Hickory before promotion to Down East on 6/3…compiled a 6.00 ERA (16 ER/24.0 IP) over 1st 5 starts with the Woodies and a 1.96 figure (9 ER/41.1 IP) over final 9 games/8 starts…opposition batted .208/.318/.306/.623 during season-ending stretch… represented the Rangers at the All-Star Futures Game in Miami and retired the only batter he faced (COL's Ryan McMahon) in the 8th inning.
2016
Logged a team-high 22 starts for Hickory, finishing T3rd among Texas farmhands in wins…right-handed batters hit .271/.358/.416 and lefties batted .227/.300/.381…was 6-3, 2.59 (19 ER/66.0 IP) over 13 games/12 starts in Hickory and 4-6, 7.15 (40 ER/50.1 IP) in 11 games/10 starts on the road… was 6-5, 3.88 (26 ER/60.1 IP) in 12 first half starts and 4-4, 5.30 (33 ER/56.0 IP) over 12 games/10 starts in the second half…was 2-1 with a 3.14 ERA (10 ER/28.2 IP) over his final 6 starts.
2015
Tabbed the 14th-best prospect in the AZL by Baseball America…posted the 3rd-lowest ERA among all Texas minor leaguers.
2014
Returned to DSL Rangers and matched Pedro Payano for the team lead with 14 starts.
2013
Spent 1st pro season with DSL Rangers.
