The Cleveland Guardians have signed RHP Carlos Hernandez to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
The Cleveland Guardians made a minor move on Friday afternoon that could have implications for the big-league roster at some point during the 2026 season.
The organization announced that it had signed RHP Carlos Hernandez to a minor league deal for next season with an invitation to major league spring training.
If this name rings a bell, that’s because Hernandez actually appeared in five games with the Guardians during the 2025 season, after Cleveland picked him up on July 31 after the Detroit Tigers designated him for assignment. In his few outings with Cleveland during the second half of the season, Hernandez had a 3.86 ERA and a WHIP of 1.00 over 7.0 innings pitched.
Hernandez also made appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025, bringing the total number of teams he pitched for in 2025 to three. In total, he took the mound 41 times and recorded a 6.23 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, while striking out about eight batters per nine innings.
Aug 10, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Carlos Hernandez (40) pitches during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn ImagesHernandez made his MLB debut during the 2020 season and has since appeared with four teams, including the Guardians. He has a career ERA of 5.14 and a 1.48.
With underwhelming numbers, the Guardians must see something in Hernandez to add him to the roster in the middle of last season and bring him back to the organization this winter. The answer to that question is the 28-year-old’s arm; Hernandez throws the ball just as hard as anyone.
During the 2025 season, Hernandez’s fastball velocity of 97.7 mph ranked in the 94th percentile. Throwing a ball that hard is simply something coaches can’t teach, and he has the natural ability to hit triple-digits at times.
Back in July, when Cleveland initially picked up Hernandez, Chris Antonetti said, “He’s got a power arm with really good stuff.”
Of course, Cleveland has a knack for developing pitchers and helping turn players into quality arms. Hernandez clearly has the potential to be an intriguing piece in a bullpen, and it’ll be interesting to see what type of pitcher he can become after a full offseason in the Guardians organization.