Texas Rangers Manager Believes Reliever 'On His Way' Back
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy believes the time is coming where reliever Jonathan Hernández could help the team in the bullpen once again.
Hernández was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on June 5 to give him a chance to work on control issues. After more than a month, Bochy likes what he’s seeing on tape and what he’s hearing in reports from Round Rock.
“He’s doing much better,” Bochy said. “No. 1, it’s control the strike zone a little bit better. Particularly, he wasn’t controlling the zone with the fastball. He’s got a good slider and changeup. I thought his last outing was really good.”
That last outing was on Friday against Tacoma. He threw one inning and did give up a home run on the first pitch he threw. But, after that, he struck out two hitters.
With the Express, he’s gone 1-1 in 11 games with a 2.03 ERA and two saves in 13 1/3 innings pitched. He’s struck out 12 and walked 11, but hitters are batting just .188 against him.
With the Rangers, Hernández appeared in 25 games, going 1-1 with a 6.65 ERA in 21 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts and a 1.62 WHIP.
Bochy envisioned Hernández as a potential eighth- or ninth-inning pitcher when the season started. But the effectiveness needed for that role didn’t quite materialize. Now, if Hernández returns to Arlington, it will be more as a sixth- or seventh-inning option.
Bochy could see that happening soon.
“I think he’s on his way,” Bochy said. “I think he’s going to help us in the bullpen.”
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