The Braves brought in Elieser Hernandez on a minor league contract in November, according to his MLB.com profile. The right-hander finished the 2025 season in the Blue Jays’ system before opting for minor league free agency once the year concluded.
Atlanta is well acquainted with Hernandez from his time with the Marlins between 2018 and 2022, when he recorded a 5.04 ERA across 287 2/3 innings while working as both a starter and reliever. Miami dealt Hernandez to fellow NL East club the Mets in November 2022, but injuries limited him to no major league appearances during his lone season in New York.
Hernandez later spent time with the Dodgers and Brewers in 2024, logging 15 2/3 big-league innings before choosing free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment from Milwaukee. In July 2024, he signed with the LG Twins of the KBO League and produced solid results over the 2024–25 seasons, posting a 4.14 ERA with a 27.17% strikeout rate and an 8.5% walk rate across 113 innings. That performance drew interest from Toronto, though his minor league stint with the Blue Jays was less successful, as he struggled to a 7.91 ERA in 19 1/3 innings at Triple-A Buffalo.
Across 303 1/3 career MLB innings, Hernandez owns a 5.10 ERA, along with a 7.6% walk rate and a 21.8% strikeout rate. Home runs have been his biggest issue, as he has surrendered 73 long balls in his major league career, limiting his effectiveness both as a starter and in a long relief role.
Although Hernandez was more effective at keeping the ball in the park in the KBO and during his brief time with Toronto, his struggles in Buffalo indicate he remains a project. The Braves are the latest organization to take a chance on him, and he’ll join a crowded spring training group of minor league pitchers with MLB experience. His ability to start could help his case for a Triple-A role, though Atlanta already has considerable depth in starter-ready arms.
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