Round Rock OF Elier Hernandez Promoted to Texas

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Welcome to The Show, Elier! The Texas Rangers announced on Thursday afternoon that the club selected the contract of Round Rock Express OF Elier Hernandez. Hernandez will bat seventh and be the designated hitter in his Major League debut on Thursday night at Globe Life Field against the Seattle Mariners.

The right-hander started the season on the Round Rock roster and hit .295 (61-207) in 62 games with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 35 RBI. Hernandez had a slash line of .295/.364/.546 and has collected 18 multi-hit games which was the second-most on the team.

The 27-year-old started a 12-game hitting streak from June 28-July 10 and hit .415 (17-41) with four doubles, three home runs and seven RBI during that stretch. On July 1 against the Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland Athletics affiliate), Hernandez snagged a 3-for-4 night with one RBI. On July 9 against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies affiliate), he posted his first four-hit game of the season. He finished 4-for-5 with two RBI.

Hernandez has appeared in 954 games in the minor leagues and has a career .260 (932-3585) batting average. He played in 92 games for Round Rock in 2021 and hit .231 (76-329) with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 62 RBI.

The San Cristobal, Dominican Republic native has spent 10 seasons in the minor leagues since he signed with the Kansas City Royals as a minor league free agent in 2011. He elected free agency in 2019 and signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers in December of 2020.

Meanwhile, Round Rock gets set for game three of their six-game series against the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) on Thursday night at Southwest University Park. Express LHP Taylor Hearn (1-0, 4.50) is currently scheduled to start against Chihuahuas RHP Thomas Eshelman (0-1, 6.16). First pitch is slated for 7:35 p.m. CT.