The Boston Red Sox officially announced the signing of veteran infielder Justin Turner on Friday. Before doing so, they had to clear a spot on the roster.
Left-handed reliever Darwinzon Hernandez was designated for assignment to make room for Turner.
Hernandez, 26, was signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2013. He impressed in the minor leagues, racking up strikeouts with his high-90s fastball and a curveball that tied hitters in knots when he was on. His electric stuff made him one of top pitching prospects in Boston's system heading into the 2019 season, when he made his MLB debut.
Unfortunately, Hernandez couldn't put it all together for the Red Sox during his four-year tenure. He struggled mightily with his command as he walked 7.7 batters per nine innings and had 11 hit-by-pitches in his 91 appearances (85.1 innings).
Hernandez posted a 5.06 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with 73 walks, and 133 strikeouts during his time in Boston.