Nick Hernandez lives Astros dream

HOUSTON – Growing up in Houston’s suburb Missouri City, Nick Hernandez frequently attended Astros games. He fondly remembers being next to his father at the Astrodome eating a funnel cake covered in powdered sugar.

Hernandez witnessed the 2005 Astros make an unlikely run to the World Series. He idolized Hall of Famers Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, and he loved watching Roger Clemens pitch for Houston. 

When the Astros were rebuilding, the Dulles High alum took advantage of the affordable ticket prices and sat behind home plate once. While Hernandez sat in the stands he hoped to pitch at Minute Maid Park one day. 

“My first big league game ever was at the Astrodome,” Hernandez said. “I would come to games all the way from 2005 through 2016 till I got drafted.”

Hernandez, 30, pitched for Alvin Community College before transferring to the University of Houston. His junior year, the young right-hander was 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA. He became the sixth Cougar to earn 10 or more saves in a season.

A big relief

After the 6-foot-1 pitcher was drafted by the Astros in 2016, his dream of pitching at Minute Maid Park seemed closer to becoming a reality. In 2021, Hernandez had pitched his way up to Class AAA. He then alternated between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. 

However in 2023, Hernandez signed with the San Diego Padres as a minor-league free agent. During the offseason, he would often drive past Minute Maid Park with a sense of disappointment because he never got the opportunity to pitch there. 

After spending a year and half in the Padres’ organization, on June 4, 2024, the Astros traded for Hernandez. A day later he made his Astros debut. 

“It was a big relief,” he said. “I got to pitch at Minute Maid (Park) where I grew up, so that was awesome. That day happened so fast because I was traded the night before, and it was an early flight and a day game.

“I was in the game, so I kind of focused on pitching and getting outs. It didn’t really hit till after the game.”

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Nick Hernandez dominated Class A baseball. He earned a quick promotion to Class AA a year later. However, he struggled to take the ultimate leap and stay in the major leagues. 

The University of Houston alum would get in trouble when he tried to finesse the hitter. Instead of trusting the pitches that were working, he would tinker with his delivery and pitches. The changes wouldn’t work. 

Keeping it simple

“Pitchers, we kind of have ADD,” Hernandez said. “We try to mess around and try new things, but sometimes it’s best to do the same thing over and over again.”

His coaches in the Padres’ farm system discouraged him from changing what was working. They weren’t happy when he tried to alter his slider usage, throwing it more like a sweeper.

At that point Hernandez found it best to listen to his coaches and keep his pitches simple. That mindset helped. Hernandez made his major league debut with the Padres before pitching with Houston. 

Hernandez spent seven years in the minor leagues before making his major league debut. Throughout those years, he learned that consistency was the key in becoming a major leaguer. 

“He’s a grinder,” Astros’ pitcher J.P. France said. “He was drafted in 2016 so he knows better than anybody about the grind.”

Hernandez hopes to contribute to the Astros this season and give his neighbors the fond memories he once made in the stands cheering for his hometown team.