Baseball is a funny game. Most people hear the name "Jose Hernandez" and think of the 2002 All-Star who played for like ten different teams, or maybe the lefty reliever the Dodgers just grabbed back from the Pirates in 2024. But if you’re actually scouring the minor league box scores at 11:00 PM on a Tuesday, you know there’s a different Jose D. Hernandez making waves.
He’s a shortstop. He’s young. And honestly, he might be one of the most intriguing "slow burn" prospects in the entire Los Angeles Dodgers system right now.
The Jose D. Hernandez Dodgers Connection: Which One is Which?
Let’s get the confusion out of the way immediately. There are basically three guys named Jose Hernandez tied to the Dodgers organization in recent memory. First, you’ve got the retired infielder who hit 13 homers for the 2004 squad. Then, you have Jose Ernesto Hernandez, the lefty pitcher who was a Rule 5 pick by Pittsburgh but got traded back to LA in June 2024.
Then there is our guy: Jose Daniel Hernandez.
Born in April 2003 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, this Jose D. Hernandez is a right-handed hitting shortstop who has been grinding through the lower rungs of the farm system since signing as an international free agent in 2019. While the headlines usually go to the $50 million superstars at Chavez Ravine, the real work is happening in places like Rancho Cucamonga and the Arizona Complex League.
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Why Nobody is Talking About Him (Yet)
It hasn't been a straight line to the big leagues. Not even close. Hernandez spent a massive chunk of time in the Dominican Summer League—three seasons, actually—which usually makes scouts overlook a kid. He was basically "stuck" there due to the 2020 pandemic and the subsequent roster logjams.
But look at the late 2025 movement. That’s where things get interesting.
On September 2, 2025, the Dodgers finally bumped him up to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He didn't stay long before being cycled back to the ACL Dodgers for a post-season tune-up. But the real "pay attention" moment happened in October 2025. The Dodgers assigned him to the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League (AFL).
If you know ball, you know the AFL is where teams send the guys they think are about to "pop." He went 7-for-10 in his first few looks. A .700 average is unsustainable, obviously, but it shows the bat speed is finally catching up to his 6-foot-1 frame.
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The Scouting Report: What the Dodgers See
Hernandez isn't a hulking power hitter. He’s thin—listed at 145 pounds, though he's definitely put on some "good weight" since then. He looks like a classic middle infielder. Fast twitch. Smooth hands.
- Defensive Versatility: While he's primarily a shortstop, he’s seen time at third base. The Dodgers love a "Swiss Army Knife" (think Chris Taylor or Kiké Hernandez), and Jose D. Hernandez fits that mold.
- The Hit Tool: He’s a "contact first" guy. He isn't going to lead the league in home runs, but he finds gaps.
- Base Running: He’s got the speed that makes pitchers nervous. In the DSL, he was a constant threat to swipe second.
The knock on him has always been the "restricted list" stint in late 2024. Whatever happened there—usually visa issues or minor administrative stuff for international players—it cost him developmental time. But he’s back. And 2026 looks like the year he actually puts himself on the Top 30 Prospects list for the Dodgers.
Jose D. Hernandez Dodgers Roster Outlook for 2026
Where does he fit? Right now, he’s a depth piece. The Dodgers' 40-man roster is a fortress. With the recent $240 million addition of Kyle Tucker and the continued dominance of the established core, there is zero pressure on Hernandez to be a savior.
That’s actually the best thing for him.
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He’ll likely start the 2026 season back with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes or perhaps earn a promotion to High-A Great Lakes if his spring training is loud enough. Keep an eye on his walk-to-strikeout ratio. If he can keep the whiffs down and use his speed to turn singles into doubles, he becomes a massive trade chip or a late-season utility call-up.
What Most Fans Get Wrong
Most fans assume that if a player isn't a "Top 100 Prospect" by age 21, they're a bust. That's just wrong. Jose D. Hernandez is 22. He's entering what scouts call the "strength phase" of his development.
The Dodgers have a terrifyingly good track record of taking guys exactly like this—unheralded international signings with high athletic floors—and turning them into contributors. You don't have to be a superstar to be valuable to this team. You just have to be reliable.
Actionable Insights for Dodgers Fans:
- Follow the Quakes: Check the Rancho Cucamonga box scores this April. If Hernandez is hitting at the top of the lineup, he’s on the fast track.
- Don't Buy the Hype (or the Hate): His Arizona Fall League stats were inflated by a small sample size, but the fact he was there at all says the front office values him.
- Watch the Weight: If he shows up to spring training looking closer to 175 lbs, expect the power numbers to jump.
Keep an eye on the name. Just make sure you're looking at the shortstop, not the pitcher.