Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Rafael Flores Jr. arrived in Bradenton a month earlier than the report date next month.
Flores has been at Pirate City since Jan. 11 to work with the staff and get a head start on the preparation that will come when pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 11.
Among the pitchers Flores has worked with is 2025 first-round draft pick Seth Hernandez, who was selected by the Pirates with the sixth pick out of Corona High School in California.
“Gross,” Flores said on his impressions of Hernandez. “19-year-olds should now be throwing 100 [mph] and he is. That goes to show how hard he works. I worked with him in the offseason, so I’ve seen him work and he pushes me, I push him.”
Hernandez was considered the top high school pitcher available in the ’25 draft and one of the top prep pitchers available in recent history.
Hernandez was named the 2025 National High School Gatorade Player of the Year after he went 9-1 with a 0.39 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 53.1 innings during his senior season.
In addition to his power fastball, Hernandez has a deep arsenal consisting of several exciting offspeed pitches and the frame and athleticism scouts dream of.
“He can throw wherever he wants,” said Flores. “The heater, changeup, curveball, slider, everything, he can throw where he wants. And for him being only 19, being able to do that is insane.”
Hernandez has yet to appear in a game in the Pirates organization but will do so this coming season.
Despite not yet toeing the rubber as a professional, Hernandez has already emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. According to MLB Pipeline, Hernandez is considered the game’s 29th-best prospect and is ranked as the fifth-best right-handed pitching prospect.
With everything he possess, from a 100-mph fastball, a plus-curveball and changeup and a sharp slider, to a 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame with room to fill out and above-average athleticism for a pitcher, there’s no telling how high Hernandez’s ceiling is.
“He’s going to be a really good pitcher,” said Flores.
Mentioned in this article: Pittsburgh Pirates Rafael Flores Seth Hernandez
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