David Hernandez

Hernandez was an inexpensive find for the Reds and turned in a solid year in setup duty after signing a two-year, $5 million deal in the offseason. The right-hander doesn't throw as hard as he did in previous years, averaging 93.0 mph on his fastball, yet he's netted positive results, keeping the ball in the park despite being a flyball pitcher. Hernandez changed his pitch repertoire to include a slider the last two seasons, throwing it 18.2% of the time in 2018. On that slider, opposing batters hit just .146 and slugged .271. Hernandez picked up 15 holds last year, which has been his floor the last three seasons. He typically pitches in the seventh inning, with Jared Hughes covering the eighth, both in advance of Raisel Iglesias in the ninth. With Iglesias signing an extension with Cincinnati, expect more of the same in 2019.

Sometimes it's funny how things work out. After being told he wouldn't make the Giants' Opening Day roster, Hernandez was granted his release, soon thereafter signing with the Braves. He began the season toiling at Triple-A Gwinnett, posting a 1.12 ERA in eight appearances before being dealt to the Angels, who called him up to the majors immediately. The journeyman right-hander put up a 2.23 ERA in 36.1 frames with 37 punchouts and just eight walks before being traded again, this time to the Diamondbacks to fortify their bullpen over the final two months. Hernandez fanned 15 with one walk with Arizona, but four homers in 18 innings fueled a 4.82 ERA. However, he did record 10 of his 18 holds with the Snakes, demonstrating he can still get it done in high-leverage scenarios. There are more dominant options, but if you're looking for a cheap source of holds, Hernandez will require a minimal investment.

The Phillies signed Hernandez to a one-year deal last winter and he looked like the favorite to open the year as the closer after Ken Giles was shipped to the Astros prior to the season. Hernandez got off to a rough start early in the season and the Phillies turned to Jeanmar Gomez to close games. Hernandez settled into a setup role and pitched fairly well until June, when he struggled to keep the ball in the park and saw his ERA inflate from 2.52 to 4.42. He righted the ship after that, finishing with a 3.18 ERA over his final 33 appearances. Hernandez's stuff has mostly come back since 2014 Tommy John surgery, but he still struggles to command his pitches, as evidenced by a walk rate of 4.0 BB/9 last season. After opting to become a free agent after the season's conclusion, Hernandez signed with the Giants on a minor league contract, where he'll likely have to settle for being organizational bullpen depth.

After missing the 2014 season following Tommy John surgery in spring training, Hernandez returned to the Diamondbacks bullpen in June. The 30-year-old right hander recorded seven holds, and in his last three seasons before his surgery, Hernandez averaged 21 holds per season. As the 2015 season unfolded, Hernandez showed significant improvement, posting a 25.5-percent K rate (9.6 K/9) and 6.6-percent walk rate (2.5 BB/9) in the second half (3.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP). He also showed similar velocity on his fastball, averaging 94.3 mph on the pitch -- just 0.5 mph less than his 2013 average. The Phillies pounced quickly when Hernandez became a free agent during the offseason, inking him to a one-year deal. He appeared to be the front-runner to close for Philadelphia entering camp, but Andrew Bailey has emerged as a legitimate challenger for the ninth inning role. Hernandez has plenty of risk, but he'll come cheaply in most drafts.

Hernandez lost his 2014 campaign to Tommy John surgery, preventing him from an opportunity to bounce back from a disappointing 2013 campaign. Most of his struggles two years ago came from long balls, as he allowed 10 home runs in just 62.1 innings. If the stuff comes back to the pre-surgery levels, Hernandez should be a valuable late-inning piece for Arizona as part of the bridge to Addison Reed. Previously featuring a mid-90s fastball and hard curveball, the right-hander topped out with a 35.3% strikeout rate in 2012 while showing improved control. It's possible that Hernandez will begin the 2015 season on the disabled list, as his surgery took place just after the D-backs' season began a year ago.

Hernandez was struggling so bad between June and August, he earned a trip back to Triple-A. Whatever he did in Reno worked because in September he allowed just one earned run in 14 innings. Once a closer candidate, the hard-throwing righty figures to be back in a middle-relief role in 2014, as the path to the ninth inning is much more crowded in Arizona following the addition of Addison Reed.

Around signing a two-year extension with the D-Backs in June, Hernandez turned in the best season of his career with an elite 12.9 K/9 and improved 2.9 BB/9. Hernandez's most effective weapon is a sharp-breaking curveball, but he also throws a mid-90s fastball and an occasional changeup. With an arsenal suited to close, Hernandez simply needs an opportunity, but that will be more difficult to come by with the addition of Heath Bell (under contract through 2014) and the return of J.J. Putz (signed through 2014). Fortunately for those in deeper leagues, the ratios he provides are good enough to utilize him as a staff filler.

Hernandez emerged as the primary setup man to J.J. Putz after the D-Backs acquired him from the Orioles in the Mark Reynolds deal last winter. With a 10.0 K/9IP, Hernandez's only weakness is inconsistent control. If he shaves his walk rate (3.9 BB/9IP), Hernandez has the tools to be an elite staff-filler type. When Putz landed on the DL in July, Hernandez racked up 11 saves in his absence and will be the closer-in-waiting should Putz miss additional time or get traded at some point. Unfortunately for Hernandez, Putz is under contract for 2012 and has a reasonably priced club option for 2013, so he may have to wait a couple of seasons before getting a crack at the full-time closer role.

Hernandez struggled out of the gate as a starter and the Orioles moved him to the bullpen, which was rumored to be a plan long in the making given Baltimore's crowd of up-and-comers in the rotation. He was effective after the move and at one point it looked like the Orioles might be trying to make him their closer. Arizona acquired Hernandez in the Mark Reynolds trade and he should start the season as part of the D-Backs' rebuilt bullpen and bridge to new ninth-inning man J.J. Putz.

In over half a season with the Orioles, Hernandez failed to translate his successful minor league strikeout rate to the big leagues. There are those that think Hernandez's future is in the bullpen and he could land there as soon as spring training since there are fewer spots - if any - open in the rotation. He is one to watch in spring training before drafting because he could win the No. 5 spot, break camp with the bullpen, or get more seasoning in Triple-A.

Baltimore added Hernandez to the 40-man roster after a breakthrough season in Double-A, in which he went 10-4 in 27 starts and led the Eastern league with 166 strikeouts. He's not as highly-touted as some of the other young arms in the Baltimore system, but he is the most major league ready of a talented bunch. Hernandez should get a shot at some point in 2009, as the Orioles struggled to figure out their pitching woes in 2008, but had few options like Hernandez to turn to.