The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with catcher Ronaldo Hernandez on a minor league contract, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
The deal includes a spring training invitation.
Hernandez, 26, gives the D-backs upper minor league experience and catching depth after they sold backup catcher Seby Zavala to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
The Colombian backstop spent the previous three seasons in the Boston Red Sox organisation, and he played the entire 2023 season in Triple-A Worcester.
While with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019, Hernandez was rated as a top 100 prospect by MLB Pipeline (No. 84) and Baseball America (No. 56). Pipeline ranks him as Tampa Bay’s No. 6 prospect.
Hernandez and infielder Nick Sogard were acquired by the Red Sox in a trade in February 2021 for pitchers Jeffrey Springs and Chris Mazza as well as cash.
Last season, Hernandez hit.242/.336/.445 with 17 home runs and 17 doubles. His strikeout percentage fell from 21% in 2022 to 17.6% in 2023, but his walk rate increased to a career high of 10.4%.
He spent the offseason with Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League.
With starter and Gold Glove winner Gabriel Moreno and Jose Herrera on the 40-man roster, the Diamondbacks have two catchers. Herrera filled in for Moreno during the postseason since Zavala was added to the team after September 1 and was ineligible.
Adrian Del Castillo was selected 67th overall in the 2021 draft and advanced to Triple-A Reno last season.
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