Is Teoscar Hernandez A Future Star For The Houston Astros?

Teoscar Hernandez Future Star For Houston Astros?

The Houston Astros minor league system is in very good shape right now. Most know about the recent draftees; Carlos Correa, Rio Ruiz, Mark Appel, among many others. While the high draft picks do build a nice system, international free agents also play a huge role.

What makes a farm system a good one is not having one or two elite prospects but having depth all the way through and that is what the Houston Astros have done. One guy in particular who has moved up lists recently is:

Teoscar Hernandez (DOB: 10/15/92)

Teoscar Hernandez is a right-handed hitting outfielder out of the Dominican Republic. Hernandez was signed as an international free agent in 2011 for $20,000. Compared to most recent international signings, the Astros may have gotten great value for Hernandez.

Hernandez stands at 6’2″ and weighs 180 lbs, though he looks bigger in person. Hernandez possesses all the tools to become a legit big-league center fielder one day. Teoscar could be referred to as a five tool prospect. He has the glove and range in the outfield to stick at center field. In the outfield his arm stands outs, evident by his 11 outfield assists in 2014.

Along with the defense and arm, he possesses great speed. He also has seemed to improve his baserunning as he set a career high in steals with 33 in 2014. For his size he has nice power with more room to grow too.

Credit: Jayne Hansen

After signing with the Astros in 2011, Hernandez was assigned to the Dominican Summer League team where he hit .274 with 13 2B, 7 3B, 7 HR in 65 games. After playing in the rookie league in 2012 he was promoted to Class A Quad Cities.

In 2013 Teoscar played in full season ball for the first time in his career. He ended the season with a .271 BA, 25 2B, 9 3B, 13 HR, 24 SB in 123 games.

2014 is where Teoscar really took off. Hernandez started the season in Class A+ Lancaster. In 96 games for the Jethawks, he hit .294 with 33 2B and 17 HR earning him a promotion to AA at the age of 21. Hernandez appeared in 23 games for the Corpus Christi Hooks hitting .284 with 4 HR.

The type of tools his possesses can draw comparisons to a guy like George Springer. After looking at stats there were actually very close to each other in their A+/AA season.

Springer, 2012, A+/AA: .302 BA/.383 OBP/.526 SLG, 21 2B, 10 3B, 24 HR, 87 RBI, 32 SB/8 CS

Hernandez, 2014, A+/AA: .292 BA/.362 OBP/.535 SLG, 37 2B, 9 3B, 21 HR, 85 RBI, 33 SB/9 CS

Just from basic stats they appeared to be very close but digging further they proved to be even closer than originally though.

Springer, 2012, A+: 11.2% BB, 26.2% SO, .240 ISO, .409 wOBA, 143 wRC+

Hernandez, 2014, A+: 10.8% BB, 25.7% SO, .256 ISO, .397 wOBA, 137 wRC+

In their limited time in AA that season Hernandez hit for a better average and more power but Springer showed better plate discipline drawing more walks and striking out less.