Astros minor league pitcher Jose Hernandez is headed to the California desert after impressive performances in Iowa. The second-year pro earned promotion to Advanced-A Lancaster after performances marking him as one of the River Bandits’ most effective pitchers, and two nods as 2016 Midwest League Pitcher of the Week.
Hernandez, 21, was signed in 2015 by the Astros as an undrafted free agent out of Mexico. He began his first professional season with Greeneville in the Appalachian League (Rookie), where he compiled a 1-1, 2.11 ERA in six games. He threw 21 .1 innings, gave up four walks and struck out 25 before moving up to Tri-City (Short Season Class-A).