At one point, Jonathan Hernandez was the Rangers closer of the future.

He signed with the Rangers in 2013 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, even though he was born in Memphis, Tennessee. The son of former major league pitcher Fernando Hernandez, the righty made his debut with the Rangers in 2019.

The next season, he came into his own, going 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA. Hernandez was expected to assume the closer role in 2021. But Tommy John surgery hit him instead. He missed all of 2021 and came back to the Rangers in July of 2022, assumed the closer role late in the season, and picked up four saves.

Things went off the rails at that point. He never got back to that 2022 form, losing his roster spot, bouncing from the majors to the minors, putting up a 5.40 ERA in 2023 and a 5.05 ERA in 2024.

Finally, the Rangers had seen enough. They cut him July 30 and Seattle picked him up August 2.

Hernandez pitched in three games for the Mariners, who have a legitimate shot at winning the A.L. West. He put up an 11.57 ERA.

Last night, the Mariners cut him. After just three games they had seen enough.

Here’s betting the Rangers pick him up again. 

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