The 2025 MLB Draft will take place in July 2025. Andersen Pickard shares his analysis of Seth Hernandez, a prep right-handed pitcher from Corona HS (CA).
Make sure to check out Andersen Pickard’s 2025 MLB Draft Board and his other MLB Draft Profiles.
Seth Hernandez, Right-Handed Pitcher, Corona (CA)
| Player | Pos | School | Grade |
| Seth Hernandez | RHP | Corona (CA) | 60 |
| Age | Height | Weight | Bats | Throws |
| 19 | 6-4 | 195 | R | R |
Scouting Grades for Seth Hernandez
| FB | SL | CB | CH | Control |
| 60 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 55 |
Scouting Report
Hernandez is a 19-year-old prep right-hander who produces everywhere he goes, including high school and the showcase circuit. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, he has plenty of projection remaining. He pitches from a 3/4 slot and is not afraid to attack the zone, especially the outer half.
Hernandez throws both a four-seam fastball and sinker. Outside of their different movement profiles, the two pitches both have similar usage and location/placement. He typically sits around 95 mph with the heater and peaked at 99 mph on the showcase circuit.
All pitches in Hernandez’s repertoire are effective, above-average offerings. However, the changeup is arguably his best secondary pitch, mostly due to how it plays off his fastball. The changeup’s armside movement as it approaches the plate leads to plenty of swings and misses, making it an effective pitch late in the count. In addition to its movement tunneling effect, the changeup is roughly 14 mph slower than the fastball (80-84 mph), offering additional deception.
Hernandez throws a 12-6 curveball with heavy spin, sitting around 80 mph. The curveball’s late drop and roughly 11 inches of gloveside break make it an effective putaway pitch when ahead in two-strike counts.
Hernandez has also worked on developing a slider, which looks like it could become even more effective than the curveball. It essentially works as a slider/cutter hybrid with roughly three inches of induced vertical break and roughly four inches of gloveside horizontal break. It tails away from right-handed hitters just as it reaches the plate, and it stays off the bat plane enough to miss bats entirely.
Hernandez’s willingness to pound the zone shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of control or command. Rather, he methodically attacks the zone, landing his fastball on the outside half of the plate. His changeup consistently misses bats low and away, and he gets plenty of chase on his slider when he lands it an inch or two outside of the zone.
It’s been a little while since we’ve seen a prep pitcher as advanced, refined, and polished as Hernandez. He’s not just the best draft-eligible arm among high schoolers, but he’s the best arm in the draft period — and he has made a case for being selected first overall.
Main Image Credit: USA Baseball
