PITTSBURGH -- Seth Hernandez got to watch Paul Skenes pitch Monday from the seats at PNC Park. Before Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Tigers, Hernandez got to chat with the Pirates’ ace on the field, with the 2025 first-round pick decked out in the custom white No. 25 jersey with his name stitched onto the back.
“I think as soon as I put the jersey on, it kind of hit me,” Hernandez said. “It kind of hit me hard as well, being able to share this moment with my family, agents, friends, just people who supported me. I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I'm just enjoying every bit of it.”
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More on the top picks:
1. WSH: Willits | 2. LAA: Bremner | 3. SEA: Anderson | 4. TEX: Holliday | 5. STL: Doyle
6. PIT: Hernandez | 7. MIA: Arquette | 8. TOR: Parker | 9. CIN: Hall | 10. CWS: Carlson
It’s safe to say that getting a chance to talk to Skenes and see him in action is near the top of the list. Skenes was billed as the best pitching prospect of his generation. Hernandez was considered by some to be the best high school right-handed pitching prospect ever and was MLB Pipeline's No. 3-ranked prospect for this year's Draft.
“He shoved yesterday, and he's probably going to shove for the rest of his life,” Hernandez said. “If I could kind of follow in his footsteps, that'd be great.”
Perhaps in a few years’ time, the two will share the field and spots in the Pirates’ rotation. Until then, Hernandez will continue to watch Skenes, fellow Southern California boy Jared Jones and some of the other best arms in the game.
“Gotta watch the best to be the best,” Hernandez said.
And Hernandez certainly wants to be in that discussion as the best, too, and he’ll have Skenes and Jones to look up to while he makes his journey through the Pirates’ system.
Hernandez, the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s Draft, signed Tuesday for $7.25 million, a record for a high school pitcher. Perhaps that’s only fair considering that Hernandez is being touted as one of the greatest high school Draft pitching prospects ever, brandishing a fastball that can ramp up to the triple digits, along with a devastating changeup. The breaking stuff is still developing, but that “bread and butter” changeup and wicked heater are a strong foundation to build upon.
And building and growing as a player was definitely on Hernandez's mind, even on a day to celebrate.
“Obviously, I'm never going to be perfect, so being able to kind of chase that perfection, whether that be mechanically, mentally, or even physically -- so being able to just kind of attack everything at once,” Hernandez said. “I think I'm gonna have a good support system going to Florida. So being able to hop in there and be able to get to work, it's gonna be good.”
That work ethic was something that stood out to the Pirates during the Draft process. During his opening remarks for Tuesday’s introductory press conference, general manager Ben Cherington mentioned how Hernandez loved being at the field -- not just on days he pitched.
“That foundation is something that we’re really excited about,” Cherington said.
“I just love being at the field,” Hernandez said. “Just being able to be a part of this great organization, trying to bring that winning culture back to Pittsburgh. Like I said, this is a great city, great atmosphere. Being able to go out and play every day to my best ability is definitely what I'm looking forward to.”
There was no guarantee the Pirates were going to be able to get Hernandez with the sixth overall pick. Director of amateur scouting Justin Horowitz admitted on Draft night that he thought the odds were against them. Now, they get another potential elite arm to develop.
“He's a great kid to be around,” Horowitz said after the first day of the Draft on July 13. “He's a culture-changer. He's competitive. He's focused. He has a professional demeanor about him. He just checks so many of our boxes, to be honest. We were pumped when we had the opportunity to grab him at six [overall].”
Now Hernandez has the opportunity to prove Horowitz and the team right.
“A lot has gone on in my life recently, but obviously, I think this kind of tops it, being a part of a great organization,” Hernandez said. “They've had faith in me since the beginning. So being able to be here, be in Pittsburgh, amazing city, amazing fans as well … being a part of this is definitely unbelievable.”