'Born to hit' Hernández becomes 3rd Marlins OF with 20 HRs since 2018

MIAMI -- Heriberto Hernández was born to hit, so says Marlins manager Clayton McCullough.

He’s not wrong.

With his leadoff homer in the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s loss, Hernández became just the third Marlins outfielder with at least 20 home runs since 2018, joining Kyle Stowers (2025) and Adam Duvall (‘21). He also is the fourth Marlin in as many seasons to reach 20 homers within his first 101 games of a season, joining Stowers (2025), Jake Burger (‘24) and Jorge Soler (‘23).

What’s notable among that group is that Stowers and Soler were All-Stars in those campaigns, while Hernández was demoted to Triple-A Jacksonville on April 27 before being recalled on May 7.

“I knew if I worked hard and put myself into this goal, I could make it happen,” Hernández said via interpreter Luis Dorante. “Again, it was not exactly my goal [to hit] 20 home runs, but I trust myself in doing it.”

The 26-year-old Hernández’s calling card has always been his bat. Before making his Major League debut on May 30, 2025, he had a career .878 OPS in seven Minor League seasons.

That didn’t change in The Show. Hernández received down-ballot recognition in 2025 National League Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .266/.347/.438 with 12 doubles, one triple, 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 87 games.

But that type of production didn’t guarantee Hernández a spot on the Opening Day roster. Though Hernández did make it, he faltered out of the gate with a .474 OPS in 74 plate appearances and received a demotion. Entering Wednesday's series finale, Hernández had 14 doubles, a club-leading 20 homers and an .840 OPS in 299 plate appearances since his return.

“This is a version we've seen a lot of Bert,” McCullough said. “Outside of the first couple of weeks to start this season, where circumstances are different -- it's his first time making an Opening Day roster, somewhat wanting to kind of pick up where you left off, and he just didn't seem as convicted in his at-bats, didn't seem as aggressive as we've seen him. And since he's come back, it's been a much different story. He certainly is a real presence in the box.”

Hernández has repeatedly said the club’s confidence in him helped. So did working with the hitting coaches on pulling and elevating the ball more. Prior to his demotion, he had a 12.2% pull air rate and a 49% air-ball rate. Since his recall, those have increased to a 27.2% pull air rate and a 60.3% air-ball rate.

Credit also goes to the training Hernández put in before the season began. He gained muscle and lost fat, weighing 12 pounds less at Spring Training.

“I think that is something that has helped me to stay mostly healthy, and then just stay good energy toward the whole season and stamina,” Hernández said.

With such a left-handed-heavy roster, Hernández’s bat has been huge against southpaws. Entering Wednesday, he goes deep in 7.8% of his plate appearances against lefties this season -- the third-highest rate among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances, trailing only Coby Mayo (10.8%) and Jo Adell (8.0%).

Hernández also has had a penchant for clutch knocks. His 11 game-tying or go-ahead home runs was tied for 28th in the Majors, and most by any Marlin (rookie Joe Mack is second with seven).

“Bert can hit, and one thing Bert can do is he can hit velocity, and he can hit in-zone spin, and he handles left-handers very well,” McCullough said. “Bert's an aggressive hitter by nature, but in a good way. Bert is incredibly aggressive when he gets something in the strike zone. He's pretty good about limiting his chase. … This guy has some real whip and snap in his bat, and when you can hit velocity and you can handle mistake spin and elevate the ball to the pull side like Bert can, he has some real strengths and some things that lead to his ability to do damage.

“And now Bert has been up here long enough and been in a lot of big spots that when he gets up there, he believes that he's going to get it done. And if he doesn't, I believe Bert is one of those that looks forward to the next opportunity to go up there and take his shots again.”