DURHAM, NC- For the third time in the last two years, Winnipeg Goldeyes LHP Nick Hernandez has been named the American Association Pitcher of the Month. He went 5-1 in the month of July, earning him that award for the first time in 2015. Hernandez struck out 24 batters over the course of the month while only walking nine.
Hernandez tossed two complete game shutouts in the month. On July 18, he held the Gary SouthShore RailCats scoreless with just six hits and one walk. The former Tennessee Volunteer struck out five RailCats in a 10-0 win. He repeated the feat on July 29 against the Amarillo Thunderheads. He scattered four hits and a walk while striking out five as the Goldeyes rolled 7-0. Those five strikeout outings matched for his month high, along with a July 23 game at the Kansas City T-Bones.
Hernandez is now 8-3 with a 1.86 ERA this season. He has struck out 65 batters in 96.1 innings over 14 starts. He was named the Pointstreak Pitcher of the Week for the weeks ending May 31 and June 7 this year.
American Association awards are nothing new for the product of Madison, Tenn. He won the Pointstreak Pitcher of the Week award for the weeks ending June 29 and August 17, 2014. To add to those nods, Hernandez won two of the three Rawlings American Association Pitcher of the Month honors last season, taking home the hardware for the months of June and August. Now in his second year with the Goldeyes, Hernandez was 12-2 with a 3.05 ERA last season. In 120.2 innings, he struck out 93 and only walked 22.
Before taking his talents to the independent ranks, Hernandez played three seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies system. He reached as high as Advanced A with the Phillies, his 2013 campaign with the Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League. That season, he struck out 86 over 18 starts for Clearwater.
The Goldeyes continue a home series with the Kansas City T-Bones on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Central time. That game, like all Goldeyes home games, will be shown live and for free at www.americanassociationbaseball.tv.
Rawlings is the official baseball of the American Association. They are located in St. Louis, MO and are the official helmet of Major League Baseball and the exclusive supplier of baseballs to Major League Baseball since 1977. For more information about Rawlings go to: http://www.rawlings.com.
