The Philadelphia Phillies have been playing exceptionally well lately, thanks in large part to outstanding pitching. While their major league staff has been dominant, the team recently lost a valuable depth option when right-handed reliever Jonathan Hernández signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this week.
Hernández originally signed with the Texas Rangers as an amateur free agent back in 2013 and made his MLB debut with Texas six years later. The son of former big leaguer Fernando Hernández appeared in 124 games for the Rangers across parts of five seasons, posting a respectable 4.18 ERA over 150 ⅔ innings. The Tennessee-born pitcher was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners near the end of the 2024 season but struggled in a brief three-game stint in the Pacific Northwest.
After spending the entire 2025 season in Triple-A with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Phillies signed Hernández to a minor league deal last December and stationed him in Lehigh Valley as bullpen depth. The 29-year-old made 13 appearances for the IronPigs, logging 15 innings with a 4.80 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
Former Phillies pitcher Jonathan Hernández could provide help to the Dodgers amid their wave of injuries
Hernández might not be the flashiest name in the Phillies’ system, but an experienced reliever with strikeout ability is a solid backup option in case any of the big league arms go down. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, Hernández had an opt-out clause in his contract, allowing him to become a free agent if not added to the major league roster.
That’s exactly what happened this week, and the two-time defending champion Dodgers smartly brought him on board. Hernández now has a spot in L.A.’s bullpen, and the organization will likely maximize his potential as they’ve done with numerous other players.
Phillies fans can take comfort in knowing that Hernández was kept off the major league roster by a couple of low-cost, high-reward arms the team struck gold on last offseason. Veteran lefty Tim Mayza has delivered a solid 3.47 ERA across 23 ⅓ innings, while Chase Shugart has impressed with a 1.72 mark over 15 ⅔ frames.
It’s just unfortunate the Dodgers stand to benefit, since they deserve nothing good.
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