Seth Hernandez isn’t necessarily pitching for strikeouts. More than anything, the Pirates’ top pitching prospect described it as self-preservation in the Florida heat.
Hey, whatever works, right?
Hernandez, 19, has been racking up a boatload of strikeouts with Low-A Bradenton while experiencing a slew of success. Through five starts, he has a 1.23 ERA, a 0.73 WHIP and 41 punchouts compared to just six walks in 22 innings.
His explanation for it was rooted in simplicity.
“Since it’s getting hotter down here, I’m trying to get off the field as fast as I can,” Hernandez said. “I’m not really thinking about strikeouts. I’m just thinking about pounding the zone and letting my defense do its thing.
“Obviously the strikeouts come with getting in the zone early and getting ahead. I think with the stuff I have right now, it has [helped] with the strikeouts.”
Hernandez appeared on Sunday’s Pirates Insider Show and discussed a variety of topics, including what’s led to his hot start, handling all of the attention, whether he misses hitting, his favorite pitch to throw and more.
As for the five dominant outings, Hernandez said his body is feeling healthy and strong. Refining his slider over the offseason has also played into the success, allowing the right-hander to use all four pitches.
“I think the changeup has been really good,” Hernandez said. “Curveball has been pretty good as well. Having all four pitches for me has really helped. The fastball shape has been even better this year. Guys can’t really sit on anything. It’s been good mechanically.
“Just want to keep dominating, keep shoving and getting some more wins.”
On Friday, Hernandez encountered something a little unique: He allowed a few runs. Two solo homers, in fact.
It hasn’t happened much. Opponents are batting just .133 against Hernandez, who’s striking out more than 50% of the hitters he’s faced.
Then again, he also induced 19 whiffs on 37 swings (51.4%).
But seeing some mistakes get hit is simply part of pitching, Hernandez said. Learn from it and move on.
“The big thing is not letting things snowball,” Hernandez said. “It’s baseball. You’re gonna give up runs sometimes. One of the home runs was a 98-mph heater up and away. The second one was kind of a hanging breaking ball. You have to tip your cap to some of those things and learn.
“Obviously there are some things I could have done better last outing. You review and get better throughout the week, make sure those things don’t happen again.”
Externally, there’s been a lot of noise about when Hernandez — rated the No. 24 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline — will get promoted to High-A Greensboro. Hernandez hasn’t focused too much on that.
Hernandez said his understanding was that much of his volume would be built in Bradenton, and he’s comfortable there. As good as he’s been, he’s not thinking about the next thing.
“I have to get the workload up,” Hernandez said. “I honestly don’t mind. I have a place here in Bradenton. I’m home. I’m under my own roof. But when that time does come, I’ll be ready.”
The Pirates drafted Hernandez sixth overall this past year out of Corona High School in California. He was also a successful hitter, although like Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler, those days are squarely behind him.
Hernandez said he does still miss hitting some … but not so much when he sees the quality of stuff pitchers these days are throwing.
“I’m glad I’m not holding a bat in my hands anymore,” Hernandez said with a laugh.
When he’s not pitching, Hernandez pays plenty of attention to the Pirates’ starting rotation, describing it as “pretty special.” Hernandez spent time in Spring Training picking guys’ brains, especial Paul Skenes, and trying to learn all he could.
It’s the same thing Hernandez has done over the years with Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, Marcus Stroman and Zack Wheeler — his favorite pitchers to watch. He’s trying to take a little from each of them and make it his own.
“You pick and choose what you want and kind of make it into your own,” Hernandez said. “Your body’s different. You can’t do exactly what they do. Kind of just doing your own thing.”
That includes his pitch mix, of course. Hernandez has turned heads, especially during the Spring Breakout game, with his incredible velocity, regularly throwing over 100 mph and averaging in the high 90s.
It’s an elite fastball MLB Pipeline grades a 70 on scouts 20-to-80 scale.
But the funny part is that Hernandez likes his changeup the most.
“Especially during the offseason, it wasn’t the best,” Hernandez said. “Now that the season has started, I kind of found the feel for it again, found the cue. It’s been a fun pitch to throw to both sides.”
In other words, it helps him get off the field — and out of the heat — quickly.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.