The Philadelphia Phillies have been playing strong baseball recently, with their success largely driven by excellent pitching performances from the major league staff.
However, they lost a key bullpen depth option when right-hander Jonathan Hernández left the organization and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hernández originally signed with the Texas Rangers as an amateur free agent in 2013 and reached the majors in 2019, spending parts of five seasons in Texas where he posted a 4.18 ERA over 124 appearances.
He was later claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners in 2024 but struggled in a brief stint.
After spending the 2025 season in Triple-A with the Tampa Bay Rays, Hernández joined the Phillies on a minor league deal last December and served as bullpen depth in Lehigh Valley.
In 13 appearances for the IronPigs, he recorded a 4.80 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 15 innings.
Although not a headline name, he provided experienced relief depth for Philadelphia in case of injuries.
However, his contract included an opt-out clause that allowed him to enter free agency if he wasn’t promoted to the major league roster, which he ultimately exercised this week.
The Los Angeles Dodgers quickly signed him, adding him to their bullpen despite his recent struggles in Triple-A.
For the Phillies, his departure is softened by the strong performances of other bullpen arms like Tim Mayza and Chase Shugart, who have both delivered solid results this season.
