Braves Sign Elieser Hernandez to Minor League Contract

The Atlanta Braves have dipped back into the pitching market, inking veteran right-hander Elieser Hernandez to a minor league deal. This move reconnects Atlanta with a familiar NL East arm whose career has swung between promise and inconsistency.

Now it hinges on whether he can turn overseas success and fresh opportunity into meaningful depth for a contender.

Braves Bet on Familiar NL East Arm in Elieser Hernandez

Hernandez is no stranger to Braves fans or their front office. After spending five seasons with the Miami Marlins, he became a regular opponent in NL East play and a known quantity for Atlanta’s scouts and analysts.

A Look Back at His Marlins Tenure

From 2018–22, Hernandez worked as both a starter and reliever in Miami. He posted a 5.04 ERA over 287 2/3 innings.

The run prevention numbers never fully matched the underlying stuff. Still, he teased rotation upside at times with his ability to miss bats and handle multiple innings.

His profile in Miami stayed pretty consistent: a strikeout-capable right-hander with the flexibility to swing between the rotation and bullpen. But his margin for error kept disappearing thanks to the long ball.

Injuries and Detours After the Marlins Trade

Hernandez’s career path shifted in November 2022 when the Marlins traded him to the New York Mets. It looked like a chance to reset with a new organization.

A Lost Year with the Mets

That fresh start never really happened. Injuries derailed his lone season in New York, and he didn’t log a single major league inning in 2023.

For a pitcher already working to solidify himself as more than depth, the lost year became a significant setback. By the time he resurfaced stateside, he was fighting not just for a role, but for a foothold in any pitching staff willing to take a chance.

Dodgers, Brewers, and a Jump to the KBO

In 2024, Hernandez re-emerged with the Dodgers and Brewers, both contending organizations. He hoped to reestablish his market value.

Short MLB Stint, Then a Move Overseas

He totaled just 15 2/3 major league innings between Los Angeles and Milwaukee. Instead of accepting an outright assignment to the minors, he chose free agency.

With options narrowing in MLB, he turned to the international market and landed with the LG Twins of the KBO in July 2024. In Korea, Hernandez finally found some stability.

Over 113 innings across the 2024–25 KBO seasons, he recorded a 4.14 ERA with a 27.17% strikeout rate and an 8.5% walk rate. That mix of swing-and-miss and controlled command suggested his repertoire could still play at a high level with the right adjustments.

KBO Success, Triple-A Struggles, and a New Braves Opportunity

That KBO performance caught the eye of the Toronto Blue Jays. They brought him back to North America on a minor league pact, looking for upside depth.

Rough Results in Buffalo Before Free Agency

The results never clicked in Triple-A. Pitching for Buffalo, Hernandez was tagged for a 7.91 ERA over 19 1/3 innings.

He struggled to translate his KBO form to a hitter-friendly minor league environment. Following the 2025 season, he elected minor league free agency, opening the door for Atlanta to step in.

The Braves see value in the combination of experience, versatility, and the recent strikeout gains he showed overseas. Maybe there’s something there.

Hernandez’s Career Numbers: Strengths and a Glaring Weakness

Across 303 1/3 major league innings, Hernandez owns a 5.10 ERA with a 21.8% strikeout rate and a 7.6% walk rate. Those strikeout and walk numbers land in the realm of a usable depth starter or multi-inning reliever.

The Home Run Problem That Defines His Ceiling

The issue has never been pure stuff; it’s been damage control. Hernandez has surrendered 73 home runs in those 303 1/3 innings, a rate that’s consistently undermined his value in both starting and long-relief roles.

In an era where keeping the ball in the park is paramount, that’s the red flag every team must weigh. For Atlanta, the calculus is simple: if they can tweak pitch usage, location, or sequencing just enough to reduce the long ball, maybe they unlock a serviceable depth piece.

What the Braves Are Really Getting with This Minor League Deal

On paper, this is a low-risk, upside-flier move typical of a contending organization with a deep rotation picture already in place.

Path to a Role in Atlanta’s Pitching Hierarchy

Hernandez will head into spring camp on a minor league deal. He’s got a shot to audition as rotation depth, probably aiming for a spot with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Atlanta’s rotation already looks crowded, but Hernandez can start or handle a bulk relief role. That flexibility might give him a real shot to stick around as injury insurance.

If he flashes some of that KBO strikeout magic and keeps the home run problem even a bit more in check, he could turn into one of those under-the-radar arms who pops up midseason when injuries hit Atlanta’s depth chart. If things don’t pan out, the Braves only lose a roster spot in camp and get a look at a pitcher they’ve seen plenty of times in the NL East.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Braves Sign Elieser Hernandez To Minors Contract