Hernandez makes most of rare start, makes case for more

Yadiel Hernandez has two stints on the Nationals roster already this season, once because of the club's end-of-spring COVID-19 outbreak and once because of Juan Soto's shoulder strain. He entered Saturday having taken 11 plate appearances in eight games, starting only one of them.

So what did the 33-year-old rookie outfielder think when he learned he not only was in Saturday's lineup against the Mets, but would be batting second?

"In reality, I wasn't expecting it," he said during a Zoom session with reporters via interpreter Octavio Martinez. "I was expecting to play today, but I didn't know where in the lineup I was going to hit. So when I saw that, the thing is, I was planning on doing my job, wherever I was, ready to play today."

Hernandez more than did his job during the Nationals' 7-1 victory at Citi Field. He delivered three consecutive quality plate appearances to begin his day, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first, singling and scoring in the third, then coming through with a two-out single to drive in another run in the fourth.

It was perhaps an unexpected performance to most observers. Just not to those who have been watching Hernandez closely for the last year.

"I told you before: Yadi's always hit," manager Davey Martinez said. "He works good at-bats. It was good to see him go out there and help us win a game today."

Hernandez's track record for offensive success is lengthy, from his time in Cuba to his 33-homer season at Triple-A Fresno in 2019 to his batting title in the Mexican League last winter to his .469 batting average this spring in Florida.

Opportunities in the big leagues, though, have been minimal. After four years in the Nationals farm system, Hernandez finally was called up to D.C. for the first time in September 2020 and went just 5-for-26. And he was pegged to open this season at the club's alternate training site in Fredericksburg before nine players landed on the COVID-19 IL and he shockingly found himself a member of the opening day roster.

Martinez has always lauded the lefty-swinging outfielder's offensive abilities. And with his team struggling to find consistent production at the plate, he decided to give Hernandez a rare start Saturday afternoon against the Mets. It paid off.

"The more at-bats I get, the more comfortable I feel and the better I should be playing," Hernandez said. "It's kind of hard to come off the bench and produce, just one at-bat here and there. But the more I play, the more comfortable I feel. And hopefully the results will be there."

He made a difference immediately on Saturday. Moments after Josh Harrison opened the game with a single that included a two-base error by New York right fielder Michael Conforto, Hernandez sent a sharp fly ball to left for a sacrifice fly and a quick 1-0 lead.

"He can hit, man," Harrison said. "He did a good job. I could tell from the first inning when I was at third, that was not a bad pitch from (Marcus) Stroman that he hit the other way for a sac fly. Sometimes getting in the lineup, you stress trying to get so many hits, when all you have to do is have good at-bats. And that's what I've seen from him: having good at-bats, hitting pitches he wants. I got a chance to see it full effect this spring. He can hit."

Can Hernandez hit enough to warrant more playing time? That's the dilemma Martinez now faces with Soto sidelined.

Hernandez's improved play in the field and improved baserunning skills help make a case for him as a more well-rounded player who isn't only a hitter. That could sway Martinez into finding more opportunities for him while Soto is recovering.

"I feel comfortable and confident to put him out there in right field and have him play maybe two or three times a week right now," the manager said after Saturday's game. "We'll see what happens tomorrow. I haven't figured out our lineup tomorrow. But there's a good possibility I might keep him out there. We'll see."

Hernandez, for his part, is trying to spend less time thinking about his role on the roster and more about just staying on the roster for the long term.

"Last year, I worked hard to get to this level," he said. "The main thing is continuing to work. It's one of those things that I focused a lot in the offseason, to improve on my defense and improve on whatever the team needs me to do to obviously help them win up here. Whether it's come off the bench and play sparingly, whatever it is, I've worked hard and increased my focus to help stay up here and help the team win at all means possible."