Pirates' next Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin might be Seth Hernandez and his lightning fastball

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been on fire drafting lately.

Paul Skenes looks like he'll be the best pick of the 2023 MLB Draft. Konnor Griffin might turn out to be the best pick of the 2024 MLB Draft. And now Seth Hernandez?

Many Pirates fans will already know Hernandez's name, but if they don't, they will soon.

He's set to be one of the fastest-rising pitching prospects in the minor leagues if he keeps throwing like this.

On Friday, Hernandez pitched in the Pirates' Spring Breakout game, and his first pitch was a 102.4 mile per hour fastball.

The 19-year old threw five of his first six pitches of his outing at 100 MPH or faster.

Hernandez was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 draft, and he's ranked as the third-best prospect in the Pittsburgh system.

“I knew he was gonna be fired up," Tigers prospect Max Clark said after that first at bat, via MLB.com. "And that first pitch at 102 did look a little bit like a beam of light, I'll tell you that.”

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Hernandez threw 11 of his 21 pitches in the triple digits, and three more at 99 MPH.

“It's overpowering, and it's electric,” said High-A Greensboro bench coach Phillip Wellman, who managed the Pirates' team in this game. “... He's big, he's strong and the first time he cuts loose a fastball, everybody's gonna go, 'Whoa.'"

Hernandez walked the first two hitters he faced, then got a strikeout on a curveball and induced a double play grounder to third base.

This is just the beginning, but don't be mistaken. Hernandez is coming.

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