Ronaldo Hernandez is one Red Sox prospect with a bright future
With the start of Spring Training only weeks away, the Red Sox’s catching situation at the major league level is set. Reese McGuire and Connor Wong are expected to be the catching tandem to start the 2023 campaign. The club also signed veteran catcher Jorge Alfaro to a minors pact, and will be another name in the mix. However, they do have competition waiting in the minors in Ronaldo Hernandez.
The Red Sox acquired Hernandez two years ago in a trade with Tampa Bay. In the minors, he has been a hitting machine. Through his first 204 games in the Red Sox system, Hernandez has added 33 home runs to his resume and never hit below .260. In that span, he has 121 runs batted in.
However, his value does not only lie in his bat. In 577.1 innings of work behind the plate in 2022, the 25-year-old committed six errors. He also turned six double plays and caught 16 runners stealing. Compared to the year before, he continued to improve defensively and with controlling the running game. Both will be critical traits in the majors.
Although Hernandez is expected to begin the 2023 campaign in Triple-A, he could be in the majors at some point this summer. The Red Sox do not have to rush him with options such as McGuire and Wong at the major league level. That will give the Colombian native more time to work on his game, only one call from the majors.
As Hernandez prepares for his third season in the Red Sox organization, he is one player that will be watched closely. He has hit at every level and seen his home run total rise over the last two years. Compared to McGuire and Wong, he has more offensive upside and power. While they have an edge defensively, Hernandez has shown improvement in that area.
During the 2023 campaign, Hernandez would be the first option if Wong or Mcguire suffered injuries. Wong also has struggled at the major league level. In 33 games. He has posted a .213 batting average with little power. If the former third-round pick gets off to a slow start, Hernandez will be waiting for his chance.
Regardless of when his debut comes, the Rays product should get an opportunity in the foreseeable future. He has already shown that he can be an impact player, and there is little left to prove in the minors.
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