The New York Yankees’ catching situation remains uncertain, with former Rays backup Alex Jackson currently listed as the team’s No. 2 catcher on FanGraphs’ Roster Resource page. Beyond him, the depth options don’t inspire much confidence. That’s where another former member of the Rays’ organization, comes into play.
Once viewed as a promising bat-first catching prospect, he saw the Rays move on from him surprisingly quickly. That decision has since proven justified, as he has yet to earn a major league opportunity despite spending time with the Red Sox and Diamondbacks—both teams that lacked a clear catching duo during his tenure.
Now 27, he joins the Yankees on a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite, aiming to compete with Alex Jackson and others for the backup role behind 2024 AL Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Wells.
Hernández has consistently displayed power throughout the minors, posting a .203 ISO over 99 Triple-A games in 2023 with Boston. However, his aggressive approach at the plate, evidenced by a 39.1% chase rate and a 4.6% walk rate last season with Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate, has limited his effectiveness. Despite a respectable 114 wRC+, he never earned a big-league call-up and entered free agency.
The Yankees are likely hoping to refine his defensive skills, an area where he has long been considered below average. His right-handed bat could make him a viable platoon option to spell Wells, but New York may prefer a glove-first backup like Jackson to avoid a significant drop-off in framing. Wells, who posted a +12 framing mark in 2024, was one of the best in baseball in that area.
Regardless of whether it’s Jackson or Hernández, it’s possible the Yankees’ backup catcher in 2025 will be a former Ray—an interesting twist given Tampa Bay’s late-2024 trade for Ben Rortvedt.