Marco Hernandez was supposed to be the future of the Boston Red Sox. It looks like he’s finally healthy enough to live up to the potential he has shown.
During the winter of 2014, the Red Sox received Marco Hernandez through a deal with the Cubs sending Felix Doubront to Chicago. Hernandez came to Boston with great fanfare as a hot prospect that could become the future of the organization. The Baseball Gods would have their own plans for Marco though and a trio of shoulder surgeries would keep him from playing for multiple seasons.
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Finally, he got the call from Alex Cora to join the main club and he’s making everything out of the opportunity. Hernandez has only been with the Red Sox for 19 games but he has been a force at the plate and in the field. He’s carrying a strong .360/.373/.560/.933 stat line into the All-Star break. Not to mention his numerous late-game heroics in that time.
Eventually, the numbers will level out and the spike will begin to drop but as far as we know this could be exactly what Hernandez is capable of. There was a reason why he was considered a future major player for the Red Sox while he was in the farm system and we’re seeing glimpses of it. He couldn’t be shining at a better time either as both Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt are set to become free agents when this season concludes.
Just like Michael Chavis over at first, Marco is playing behind two people that very well could be in different uniforms come the 2020 season. If I’m Dave Dombrowski, I thank Nunez for his service and send him on his way but try and keep Holt however I need to.
Brock has such a level of versatility that the Red Sox need it would be a massive loss if he left. But Marco can become the everyday second baseman and complete the youth movement the Sox have done with their infield.
The nice thing with Hernandez is the fact that he himself won’t be a free agent until 2023. The Sox can keep giving him arbitration offers each year and get a strong second baseman for a bargain as Marco doesn’t command much salary-wise.
He will be 27 as this season comes to a close which also bodes well for the money conscious Red Sox and gives them ammo to not break the bank on a deal for him.
Boston has done a great job the last few years with their promotions from the farm system and giving players the chance to shine. We saw it with Rafael Devers recently and now Chavis and Marco this season.
The future is bright for the Red Sox even if the farm system feels depleted at the moment. With plenty of veteran contracts expiring in the near future, it looks like the team is in good hands with the youth on the roster.
Marco Hernandez came to the Red Sox with plenty of fanfare as someone that could become the face and future of the organization. Fate wasn’t on his side for the majority of his time with the club but in 2019 he’s reminding everyone why he was so heralded as a prospect. With the second half of the season just days away, Marco Hernandez is making sure he sees his name in the lineup as much as possible not only for this season but for seasons to come.