At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior right-handed pitcher, infielder and outfielder led the Panthers (28-3) to the Division 1 CIF-Southern Section semifinals this past season. The state’s returning Gatorade California Baseball Player of the Year, Hernandez compiled a 9-1 record on the mound with a 0.39 ERA and 105 strikeouts against just seven walks in 53.1 innings pitched. Ranked as the nation’s No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2025 by Perfect Game, Prep Baseball, USA TODAY and Baseball America, he’d also batted .319 with seven home runs, 30 RBI, 24 runs scored and a 1.019 OPS entering the sectional final four.
Hernandez has maintained a 3.44 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play baseball at Vanderbilt University this fall but is projected as a first round selection in July’s Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
A devoted parishioner at the Victory Baptist Church where he assists with services and fundraisers, Hernandez has volunteered locally on behalf of a senior living community and enjoys creating abstract art and sculpture.
