Nick Hernandez #72

Hernandez was born and raised in Missouri City, a suburb in the Houston area, and has played baseball at the prep, collegiate, Minor League and Major League levels with a Houston-area team, culminating with his Astros debut in 2024...Graduated from Dulles High School in Missouri City, where he helped lead the Vikings to a District Championship in 2012 and a placement as a State Runner-Up in 2013...Was named District MVP as a pitcher and third baseman as a senior in 2013...Began his collegiate career with two seasons at nearby Alvin Community College before transferring to the University of Houston for his junior season, serving as the team's closer...In his lone season with the Cougars, he went 3-0 with 11 saves and a 1.40 ERA (eight ER/51.1 IP) in 29 relief appearances...Was named to the American Athletic Conference First Team...Was selected by his hometown Astros in the eighth round of the June 2016 draft...Signed by Astros scout Noel Gonzales-Luna...Spent seven years in the Astros' Minor League system, reaching up to the Triple-A level, before declaring Minor League free agency following the 2022 season...Coincidentally, as Hernandez reached the Triple-A level in 2021, the Astros changed their Triple-A affiliate to then-Sugar Land Skeeters...The now Sugar Land Space Cowboys play at Constellation Field, located approximately 10 minutes from where he prepped at Dulles High School...Signed a Minor League deal with the San Diego Padres on Jan. 27, 2023...Pitched the bulk of the season with the Padres' Double-A and Triple-A affiliates before making his MLB debut with a scoreless inning of relief on Sept. 12, 2023, at Dodger Stadium...Re-signed with San Diego to begin the 2024 season with Triple-A El Paso...Was traded to the Astros for cash considerations on June 4 and made his Astros debut just a day later, tossing a perfect inning of relief vs. the Cardinals at Daikin Park...Hernandez says first memory of watching a baseball game in person was as a child at the Astrodome...While he doesn't remember the exact game, he remembers taking in the Astros stars of that era, including Billy Wagner, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell...Has received his second career invite to Major League Spring Training, and his first with the Astros organization...Is under a one-year contract for 2025.

2024

Began the year with the Padres organization before being acquired by the Astros via trade in June...Posted a 7.88 ERA with 10 strikeouts through five appearances with the Astros across three stints...Went 5-4 with a 2.41 ERA (14 ER/52.1 IP) and 70 strikeouts in 43 combined games at the Triple-A level between the Padres and Astros organizations...Acquired by Houston on June 4 for cash considerations and made his Astros debut on June 5 vs. St. Louis, tossing 1.0 perfect inning of relief...Pitched a career-high 3.2 innings on June 15 vs. Detroit, striking out five batters while allowing one run on three hits...Matched the second-longest relief outing from an Astro in 2024...The five strikeouts were also tied for the second-most in a single game by an Astro reliever in 2024...Tossed a scoreless 1.0 inning to collect the winning decision for Sugar Land in the Triple-A National Championship Game on Sept. 28 vs. Omaha...Also recorded the final three outs in Sugar Land's Game 1 victory over Reno in the Pacific Coast League Championship Series, marking the first-ever postseason win in Space Cowboys history.

2023

In his first season with the Padres organization, split the majority of the campaign between San Antonio (AA) and El Paso (AAA) before making his MLB debut with the Padres in September... Had his contract selected on Sept. 11 and made 2 appearances for SD on Sept 12 @ LAD (2.0 IP, H, 2 ER, 3 SO) and Sept 18 vs. COL (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 SO)…optioned back to ELP on Sept. 22... Started '23 with the Missions, posting a 3.18 ERA (10 ER, 28.1 IP) in 24 relief app and converted six SV in eight SVO... converted all 5 of his SVO and was scoreless in 12 of his 13 appearances (0.68 ERA) from May 16-June 23 before being promoted to the Chihuahuas on June 28... Allowed six ER across his first two Triple-A appearances before posting a 15.1 scoreless-inning streak from July 4-Aug. 9…allowed runs in seven of his final nine app. (6.14 ERA) for the Chihuahuas from Aug. 12-Sept. 23... Tossed 2.0+ IP on 28 occasions, posting a 1.93 ERA (6 ER, 28.0 IP) in those outings.

2022

Made 48 of his 51 appearances in 2022 with Triple-A Sugar Land, going 5-5 with a 3.92 ERA (26 ER/59.2 IP) and 77 strikeouts...Also made three appearances with Double-A Corpus Christi, notching 4.1 scoreless innings of relief...Led Astros Minor Leaguers with his 51 total appearances on the season.

2021

Was an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star in 2021, going 3-1 with six saves, a 1.61 ERA (10 ER/56 IP) and 69 strikeouts in 33 games (one start)...Made 32 of his 33 appearances (one start) with Double-A Corpus Christi, the other coming with Triple-A Sugar Land...His 1.61 ERA was the lowest among Astros Minor Leaguers and fifth-lowest among all Minor League pitchers with at least 55 innings pitched.

2020

Did not appear in a regular season game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League season.

2019

Spent the bulk of his 2019 season with Double-A Corpus Christi (18 games), while also making five appearances with Class A Fayetteville, going a combined 2-4 with a 4.88 ERA (14 ER/31.1 IP).

2018

Missed the entire 2018 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. 

2017

Was named a 2017 Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star in his first full professional season after posting a 1.59 ERA (six ER/34 IP) with 48 strikeouts in 24 games with Class A Buies Creek...Also made 14 appearances with Double-A Corpus Christi, where he went 1-2 with a 5.84 ERA (16 ER/24.2 IP). 

2016

Made his pro debut in 2016, going a combined 1-2 with a 1.73 ERA (five ER/26 IP) in 19 games between Class A Quad Cities and Short-Season Tri-City.