Victor Fernandez

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2014
DSL:  289/407/461, 152 AB, 11 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 23 BB, 28 K, 14-19 SB

Fernandez hit well in his debut, despite a hamstring injury that cost him some time.  He showed solid power as well as good plate discipline.  He played mostly in center, but also saw a little time in the corners.

2015
R:  240/310/341, 129 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 BB, 32 K, 16-18 SB

Fernandez moved up to the GCL, where he was the starting right fielder, with Michael De La Cruz in center.  Fernandez just held his own at the plate, with a high strikeout rate.  He was very effective as a base stealer.

2016
R+:  314/382/450, 169 AB, 13 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 15 BB, 31 K, 12-19 SB

The Pirates moved Fernandez up to Bristol.  He played all three outfield positions, spending most of his time in left.  He was just about the only bright spot on a very bad team, making significant progress at the plate.  He destroyed LHPs to the tune of a 1.073 OPS.  He had an OPS of .699 against RHPs.  He didn’t put his speed to great use on the bases.

2017
A:  228/285/323, 158 AB, 4 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 10 BB, 35 K, 8-11 SB

Fernandez opened the season at West Virginia, but suffered a hamstring injury in early April that kept him out for two months.  Once he returned, he didn’t play every day and didn’t have an especially good year.  He played all three outfield positions, but mostly left.

The Pirates have a lot of potentially talented outfielders who’ll be moving up from the short season teams in 2018, so Fernandez may find playing time in short supply.  He’ll open the season at age 24.