Yadiel Hernandez

[BlackSox13]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseba...case-for-feb-23

 

"Another intriguing outfielder option is about to hit the free-agent market. Yadiel Hernandez, who defected from Cuba in June 2015 when his team was visiting North Carolina, announced he will make himself available in a personal showcase for all interested Major League Baseball teams Feb. 23. It will happen in Mexico City."

 

BA: http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...north-carolina/

 

"Hernandez, 27, will be exempt from the international bonus pools, though he is still several months away from being cleared to sign. Hernandez, who can play left or right field, doesn’t have one loud tool, but he has been one of the top performers in Cuba’s Serie Nacional in recent years. He has good bat control from the left side, a keen eye at the plate and occasional pop, though his offensive game is about on-base skills over power.

 

At 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, Hernandez had started to play a larger role recently on the Cuban national team with so many outfielders leaving the country, including an appearance at the Caribbean Series in February in Puerto Rico. Playing for Matanzas in Serie Nacional this past season, which ended in April, Hernandez batted .369/.509/.535 with seven home runs, 77 walks (13 intentional) and 47 strikeouts in 369 plate appearances. He ranked second in batting average, OBP and walks, ranked fifth in slugging and tied for third in doubles (20)."

 

 

[nitetrain8601]

I'd be down for an on base guy. What happened to Jose Fernandez who defected as well? I'm talking about the 2nd baseman.

[LDF]

I'd be down for an on base guy. What happened to Jose Fernandez who defected as well? I'm talking about the 2nd baseman.

 

again i will say this, even if the sox does not get Cespedes,, i will be all for getting a player who can help, and if can play CF, so much the better, this will indeed be a better assembled team than last yr.

 

my question is still lingering.... who will be the SS.....

[caulfield12]

Saladino for at least 2-3 months...or longer.

[SoxAce]

His swing reminds me a lot of Cliff Floyd actually.

[Lillian]

 

The guy sure seems to have a good idea of the strike zone. His last 4 seasons, he averaged about 70 walks per 85 game seasons.

He walked in about 20% of his plate appearances, over that 4 years.

His 2014 OBP of .509 would likely translate to a pretty decent OBP in the Majors, probably at least .350 to .370.

 

[Kyyle23]

The guy sure seems to have a good idea of the strike zone. His last 4 seasons, he averaged about 70 walks per 85 game seasons.

He walked in about 20% of his plate appearances, over that 4 years.

His 2014 OBP of .509 would likely translate to a pretty decent OBP in the Majors, probably at least .350 to .370.

 

There is really no way to tell how his numbers would translate. Come on now, Abreu hit over .400 in their top league

[Lillian]

There is really no way to tell how his numbers would translate. Come on now, Abreu hit over .400 in their top league

 

Isn't knowledge of the strike zone, and patience at the plate, one of the most translatable skills?

If a player could draw walks at a 20% clip, in AA, wouldn't you be impressed?

Edited January 19, 2016 by Lillian

[BlackSox13]

I have no clue how his numbers would translate but I would take a chance on Hernandez. A left handed batting outfielder with high OBP potential sounds great to me and could slot well in the #2 slot in the lineup. Hopefully the Sox can make something happen.

[Kyyle23]

Isn't knowledge of the strike zone, and patience at the plate, one of the most translatable skills?

 

Do you normally say that a player in high A is going to translate directly to the majors the exact same way that you just inferred that Yadiel Hernandez would?

 

The fact is we know very little about how these guys will translate and projecting them like that is probably going to lead you more to disappointment

[Lillian]

Do you normally say that a player in high A is going to translate directly to the majors the exact same way that you just inferred that Yadiel Hernandez would?

 

The fact is we know very little about how these guys will translate and projecting them like that is probably going to lead you more to disappointment

 

I did not suggest that he would have anywhere near the same batting average, or power production.

My point is merely that patience at the plate, and a good knowledge of the strike zone, are skills that translate better than most hitting skills. Putting the bat on the ball is decidedly more difficult, as the quality of pitching improves. However, a ball is still a ball, at any level, and if a player can resist swinging at it, that is going to have a positive impact on his performance.

 

It is arguable that the more wicked movement on pitches, the more difficult it becomes to judge whether or not they are strikes, however a good eye is still a good eye. This player walks an extraordinary amount, and that should translate into a decent OBP.

That's all I'm saying. If you disagree with that premise, fine. I respect your opinion. However, please don't "put words in my mouth".

I did not say that his total offensive numbers would translate well. In fact, I even projected his OBP to be well over 100 points lower than his recent numbers in Cuba.

[LDF]

I have no clue how his numbers would translate but I would take a chance on Hernandez. A left handed batting outfielder with high OBP potential sounds great to me and could slot well in the #2 slot in the lineup. Hopefully the Sox can make something happen.

 

exactly.... nothing venture nothing gain.

 

let me put it this way as well, the unknown commodity, Jose Abreu.

[LDF]

Saladino for at least 2-3 months...or longer.

 

ugh....i guess as fans, this is the best we can hope for. i just hope they the sox address the outfield position.

[Kyyle23]

I did not suggest that he would have anywhere near the same batting average, or power production.

My point is merely that patience at the plate, and a good knowledge of the strike zone, are skills that translate better than most hitting skills. Putting the bat on the ball is decidedly more difficult, as the quality of pitching improves. However, a ball is still a ball, at any level, and if a player can resist swinging at it, that is going to have a positive impact on his performance.

 

It is arguable that the more wicked movement on pitches, the more difficult it becomes to judge whether or not they are strikes, however a good eye is still a good eye. This player walks an extraordinary amount, and that should translate into a decent OBP.

That's all I'm saying. If you disagree with that premise, fine. I respect your opinion. However, please don't "put words in my mouth".

I did not say that his total offensive numbers would translate well. In fact, I even projected his OBP to be well over 100 points lower than his recent numbers in Cuba.

 

Well over 100 points? His .obp was .509! You are acting like .350 to .370 is no big deal! I didn't put any words in your mouth, all I'm saying is you are projecting these guys like its a seamless transition and the leagues are comparable

 

[BlackSox13]

exactly.... nothing venture nothing gain.

 

let me put it this way as well, the unknown commodity, Jose Abreu.

I really think the Sox missed out on a potentially good international signing in Hyun-soo Kim. Another ball player with high OBP potential and I think he will easily outplay his contract which is peanuts. Hopefully the Sox get after Hernandez and sign him. Couldn't be worse than fricken Avi.

Edited January 19, 2016 by BlackSox13

[Lillian]

Well over 100 points? His .obp was .509! You are acting like .350 to .370 is no big deal! I didn't put any words in your mouth, all I'm saying is you are projecting these guys like its a seamless transition and the leagues are comparable

 

No, I am not "projecting these guys like its a seamless transition and the leagues are comparable". If I were, I'd suggest that he would have an OBP of close to .500 and that his walk rate would be 20%.

Moreover, I think an OBP of .350 to .370 would be great. That is precisely why I find his potential intriguing.

 

 

[LDF]

I really think the Sox missed out on a potentially good international signing in Hyun-soo Kim. Another ball player with high OBP potential and I think he will easily outplay his contract which is peanuts. Hopefully the Sox get after Hernandez and sign him. Couldn't be worse than fricken Avi.

 

you know, you may be right, i was sooo pissed from last yr where they the sox failed on Kang.... i even posted it on a pm to someone.... damn i wish i could remember who..

 

i just was angry.... there would not be another kang for a long time to come.

 

my other one i am looking at is someone i haven't even talked about.... but that will be for another time. when the cespy thingy is done.

[Dick Allen]

Isn't knowledge of the strike zone, and patience at the plate, one of the most translatable skills?

If a player could draw walks at a 20% clip, in AA, wouldn't you be impressed?

Oh, like Tyler Flowers?

[BlackSox13]

you know, you may be right, i was sooo pissed from last yr where they the sox failed on Kang.... i even posted it on a pm to someone.... damn i wish i could remember who..

 

i just was angry.... there would not be another kang for a long time to come.

 

my other one i am looking at is someone i haven't even talked about.... but that will be for another time. when the cespy thingy is done.

I remember there were a few SoxTalk members that really wanted Kang. I honestly don't remember how I felt at the time but I think I was kind of 50/50 about Kang but not really sure. I'd have to go back and take a look at the thread.

 

Anyhoot, I hope the Sox take a serious look at Hernandez. Don't get me wrong, not trying to sound like he's going to be the next great sensation in baseball, just want to see the Sox take some more risks in the international market. Kang turned into a bargain and I think Kim will too.

[Lillian]

Oh, like Tyler Flowers?

 

Yes, I agree that Flowers had a pretty good OBP, drawing considerable number of walks, earlier in his minor league career, and that he has never been able to maintain that skill. However, he still was never as consistently good in the Minors, at drawing walks as Hernandez has been in his career.

 

Nevertheless, I would still like to hear your opinions on the basic premise of my question; "Is plate patience and a having a good eye, one of the more projectable skills for a hitter? Perhaps I am incorrect in that assumption.

[LDF]

I remember there were a few SoxTalk members that really wanted Kang. I honestly don't remember how I felt at the time but I think I was kind of 50/50 about Kang but not really sure. I'd have to go back and take a look at the thread.

 

Anyhoot, I hope the Sox take a serious look at Hernandez. Don't get me wrong, not trying to sound like he's going to be the next great sensation in baseball, just want to see the Sox take some more risks in the international market. Kang turned into a bargain and I think Kim will too.

exactly just continue to sign the players and hope at the end of the day, the sox will have prospects to help the freaking team.

 

damn how hard is that to understand.... and yet the sox FO is doing things like snail mail.