Cubs Prospect Focus: Cristian Hernandez |
The 2023 MLB season is not only going to be a huge season for a lot of the Cubs' major league players but for a lot of their prospects as well. None more important than the organization's No. 6 overall prospect Cristian Hernandez. At just 19 years old, Hernandez comes with as much ceiling as anyone in the system, which is scary to think about.
At 6-2 and 180 pounds, Hernandez has started to mature into his body over the past two years, but more work needs to be done. However, the sky is the limit when it comes to this kid as he has drawn comparisons to Manny Machado and Alex Rodriguez. Having those comparisons is one thing, but to have that at such a young age is an entirely different story. That is the main reason why the Cubs signed him as an International Free agent in 2021 and gave him a three million dollar signing bonus for the highest bonus ever given to a Cubs International player. Despite falling down the prospect list in recent seasons, there are several scouts that still feel he has the highest upside of any prospect, and you can clearly see why. Unlike most International signings that take a little bit of time to arrive at their scheduled sites, Hernandez got to work just six months after his signing and made his presence felt in the DSL. Across 47 games that summer, Hernandez led his team in hits while hitting .285. He connected for five homers and 22 RBIs while also adding 21 stolen bases. Hernandez also showed terrific plate discipline as he picked up 30 walks compared to 39 strikeouts. All of those numbers are great, but at just 17 years old, you are entering elite prospect status. One year later, Hernandez was on the move as he came stateside to continue his development. While with the ACL this past season, Hernandez continued to impress, posting a .261 average across 44 games. However, after a slow start to the season, Hernandez began to heat up and was hitting .297 across his final 20 games. Granted, his power numbers haven’t quite come in, Hernandez did add three more homers while also driving in 21.
Unlike his 2021 season, Hernandez did struggle with his plate discipline this past summer, and that will be something to watch as he moves into full-season ball this season. Take his 19-year-old age for what you will, but Hernandez is not only an advanced hitter for his age but could be the most advanced hitter in the Cubs system.
He has shown not only a short and smooth right-handed stroke, but one that has plenty of bat speed which will generate more power with age and experience. He has a great feel for the strike zone and is not afraid to use the entire field at any moment. That is something a lot of major league hitters have gotten away from, so to see such a young kid with that kind of commitment to go the other way is quite impressive.
When it comes to his defensive skills, Hernandez is a shortstop first and is athletic enough to stick at that position. However, you also have the option to move him to 3B or the OF as I expect the Cubs to move him around a little bit more this season. Even so, he should still be athletic and quick enough to remain at shortstop, where he displays the requisite actions and instincts as well as a plus arm.
Hernandez may not be the fastest runner in the world, but he does have a quick enough first step to make things happen on the bases. However, the more his body fills out, the more likely he is to lose a step so keep that in mind as this season plays out. Hernandez has done everything this organization has asked of him thus far and has done it at an impressive rate.
This is a guy who has yet to appear in a full-season game, and that will change this year. Once he arrives in Myrtle Beach, which is where he will most likely start, the clock will begin to tick as to when he will arrive in the majors. Most think it will be 2025, but a strong showing this season could set him up for a late 2024 arrival which would be huge for this organization.
