TORONTO — The Red Sox expect catching prospect Ronaldo Hernández to be eligible for a rare fourth minor league option next year but it won’t be finalized until after this season, according to a team source.
Hernández used minor league options in 2020, ‘21 and ‘22. Players typically receive three options.
If he receives the fourth option as expected, the Red Sox would be able to send the 24-year-old to Triple-A Worcester in 2023 and he could continue to develop there and give Boston big league depth. He’s an interesting prospect who has legit home run power and solid bat-to-ball skills, although he doesn’t work counts and hardly draws walks. He also still has to improve defensively, including receiving.
Without the fourth option, Hernández would need to make the 2023 Opening Day roster or else be traded or designated for assignment. Being out of options would have made him a likely trade candidate either in the offseason (in November before Rule 5 Draft prospects are added to the 40-man roster) or before spring training ended.
It’s a bit complicated but Hernández is expected to be eligible because he has fewer than five full seasons of pro ball while using three options. The rule is explained here.
Hernández was with the Red Sox in Toronto on the taxi squad this weekend.
“The main goal is to be here in the big leagues,” Hernández said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. “If they have that option next year, that’s fine. That’s not a big deal for me. My main goal is to keep improving every day and try to be better so I can make it to the big leagues and stay here. So my focus doesn’t change whether I have the extra option or not.”
The Red Sox have said they feel comfortable entering 2023 with a catching duo of Reese McGuire and Connor Wong who have shared time here in September.
Hernández is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster besides McGuire and Wong. The Red Sox not promoting him as a September call-up reflects they still feel like he has improvements to make and he’s not in the immediate plans for 2023. That obviously could change with a strong spring training.
“Obviously, if I can make the team and stay here with Boston, it would be great,” Hernández said about the unlikely scenario where he’s out of options. “That’s what I’m working for. But I can’t focus on things that I can’t control. I’m going to work hard this offseason. I’m going to work hard and improve in all the aspects of my game and we’ll see what happens in spring training. But I’m confident that my skillsets will be good enough to play in the big leagues. And hopefully, it’s with the Red Sox. But we’ll see what happens. I can’t control the decisions they are going to make. But the things I can control, which is preparing for next season and preparing to be ready for spring training, that’s what I’ll do.”
He said he wouldn’t feel any extra pressure if he entered next spring training without options and needing to make the big league team.
“I think if you put pressure on yourself, bad things are going to happen,” he said. “And so for me, what I can control is to prepare and to be ready for spring training. And I know if it doesn’t happen here with the Red Sox ... there’s going to be a lot of options and a lot of opportunities out there with other organizations. I know the type of player that I am. I know what I can do. And that’s why I’m not too worried about what’s going to happen in the future.”
Hernández has always kept his strikeout rate in check (21% this season). But he also rarely walks (5% walk percentage in 2022). He finished 2022 slashing .261/.298/.451/.749 with 17 homers, 27 doubles, 63 RBIs and 50 runs in 105 games (439 plate appearances) for Worcester. He was Worcester’s hottest hitter in May, June and part of July.
“I’m a very aggressive batter,” he said. “Every pitch that I see that’s in the zone, I’ll swing at it. Of course, there’s some moments where you start chasing. But besides that, I feel like every time I see a ball in the zone, I want to swing. I like to swing the bat. That’s something I really like. And that’s why I don’t take many walks because I really like to be aggressive and swing the bat. But for me, it’s been like that my whole career. I’m just trying to wait for my pitch and try to hit the ball in a good contact spot so I can drive the ball. And that’s it. My key has been to try to stay in the zone and be as aggressive as I can.”
He said he’s always trying to work to improve his defense. He feels like he is in a better position defensively than he was at the beginning of the season.
“I think one of the things I always work on with receiving is trying to steal strikes to help my pitcher win,” he said. “That’s one of the skills that you need to have just so you can stay here in the big leagues and have a good career here. For me, I always try to improve on that skill and that part of my game. Try to steal as many pitches as I can to help my team win.”
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