Ariel Hernández #63

Following each of the last 2 seasons, his curveball was rated by Baseball America the best in the organization...in 2017 was a mid-season Southern League All-Star...in 2016 for Class A Dayton was a mid-season Midwest League All-Star...spent his first 6 professional seasons in the Giants organization and then 1 year with the Diamondbacks before he was selected by the Reds in the first round of the Class AAA phase of the December 2015 Rule 5 Draft.

2017

For the second consecutive season, his curveball was rated by Baseball America the best in the organization...spent most of the season in the minor leagues, where he posted a 3.24 ERA wth 1 save in 39 relief apps for Pensacola and Louisville, but in his Major League debut made 19 relief apps during 4 stints with the Reds...during 2 days on the Reds' roster from 4/23-4/24 made 1 appearance, his Major League debut on 4/24 at Mil...made 4 apps from 6/20-6/29, another 5 apps from 7/5-7/21 and then 9 more apps in September...beginning 9/19 didn't allow a run in his final 5 apps or 6.2 innings, his longest scoreless streaks of the season...made 6 apps of at least 2.0 innings, including a season-high 2.2 innings in his Major League debut on 4/24 at Mil (0h, 0r, 0bb, 5k)...on 4/24 at Mil retired all 8 batters and became only the third reliever in modern Reds history to record 5 strikeouts in his Major League debut (Tony Cingrani, 9/9/2012 vs Hou & Angel Torres, 9/12/1977 vs Hou)...retired all 14 batters faced over his first 3 Major League apps until Michael A. Taylor homered on the first pitch of the sixth inning on 6/24 at Wsh...began the season at Pensacola, where as a mid-season Southern League All-Star he posted a 2.18 ERA in 24 relief apps surrounding his 4/24 Major League debut...on 7/1, after his second stint with Cin, was optioned to Louisville and spent the rest of the season pitching for the Bats and Reds...for the Reds retired the first batter in 10 of his 19 relief apps...stranded 6 of his 9 inherited baserunners...did not enter a game in a save situation...the Reds went 2-17 in games in which he pitched...entered the season rated by Baseball America the 21st-best prospect in the organization...following the season pitched for Escogido in the Dominican Winter League (6g, 0-0, 0.00, 5.1ip, 4h, 0bb, 2k).

2016

In 43 relief apps at Class A Dayton and Daytona combined to finish 3-2, 2.18 with 5 saves in 7 opps...in 62.0 innings allowed just 29 hits and 39 walks while recording 74 strikeouts...began the season at Dayton...was promoted on 6/6...for the Dragons was a mid-season Midwest League All-Star...on 10/27 was added to the Reds' 40-man roster.