1st rounder Hernandez signs, ready to shove for Pirates

Seth Hernandez with Paul Skenes from back

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates first-round pick Seth Hernandez had a simple message about his life and game now after signing for a $7.25 million signing bonus, according to mlb.com. It has to do with being done with school and chores at home, and as he pointed out, no more hitting.

“Should be able to go out and just shove it up people's butts,” Hernandez said wearing a ceremonial Pirates jersey with the number 25 on it at PNC Park.

The Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year did it in high school striking out 105 batters in 11 starts posting a 0.39 ERA for Corona High School in California. Last year, his only other year of high school baseball, he was the Gatorade California Baseball Player of the Year, finishing his career 18-1.

Pirates GM Ben Cherington said Hernandez will report to Florida soon with the goal to get prepared for the 2026 season. Cherington pointed out that one of the attributes they love about the 19-year-old is that he loves the game. Not just pitching, but being on and around the field.

He said what some of the other first-round picks have said about trying to bring a winning culture back to Pittsburgh. The right-hander was in Pittsburgh on Monday to watch Paul Skenes pitch, saying the view of the Pittsburgh skyline from the ballpark was ‘unbelievable’.

Seth Hernandez with Paul Skenes

“(Skenes) shoved yesterday, and he's probably going to shove for the rest of his life,” Hernandez said. “If I could kind of follow his footsteps, that'd be great.”

Skenes and Hernandez talked for about 10 minutes on the field before the game on Tuesday as Hernandez met many with the team including manager Don Kelly. He’s looking forward to putting a real uniform on and getting going. As for improvements?

Seth Hernandez with Don Kelly

“I think everything,” Hernandez said. “Obviously, I'm never going to be perfect, so being able to kind of chase that perfection, whether that be mechanically, mentally, or even physically, so being able to just kind of attack everything at once. I think I'm gonna have a good support system going to Florida. So being able to hop in there and be able to get to work, it's gonna be good.”

The changeup has been Hernandez’s ‘bread and butter’. He said he’s been throwing it since he was in eighth grade and it’s always been good. Hernandez said he really hasn’t messed with it since middle school, but now pairs it with a fastball that touches 97 mph and he’s been clocked at 100 mph.

Seth Hernandez with Ben Cherington with jersey

Hernandez said he’s going to put his head down and get to work as he starts his professional career. He believes he has a good base from his family and village that has supported him. When he’s in trouble he leans on his faith and it’s been huge for him.

The second California pitcher taken first overall by the Pirates in the last three years, Hernandez wants to be perfect at everything and would like to pitch with Skenes here in Pittsburgh. Work to do, but he starts as one of the most polished high school pitchers in recent years.