As we continue previewing the starting lineup for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ahead of the February 13th opener, it’s time to take a look at Alex Hernandez, one of Georgia Tech’s most dynamic players.
Hernandez burst on to the scene a year ago as a freshman, winning the ACC Freshman on the Year award. Across 270 plate appearances, Hernandez hit 16 home runs which ranked second in the lineup only behind Drew Burress while posting a 1.024 OPS. That home run total also ranked fifth among all Division-1 freshmen. He was even better in conference play as he slashed .355/.451/.600, good for a 1.051 OPS and a 143 wRC+, both of which were the highest marks among freshmen in the ACC.
Headed into his sophomore year, Hernandez could take another substantial step forward, establishing himself as one of the best players in the ACC and beyond. He has a solid skill set at the plate which includes good contact skills and an all-fields approach with growing power and the ability to get the ball in the air often. It’s an offensive profile with a lot more potential and is already a big part of why Georgia Tech arguably possesses the best lineup in college baseball.
On the other side of the ball, Hernandez is a very versatile defender. He’s currently slated to play right field for the Jackets this spring, but it’s more than likely he has appeared at a number of different positions by season’s end. Last year, he split time in the outfield between right and left, but actually made most of his appearances at second base while also getting some time at first base.
That’s not the extent of his versatility as Hernandez actually made six appearances on the mound in 2025 as well. He was a prominent two-way player in high school and there are still situations that present themselves as a chance for Hernandez to take the mound. It was only 7 and 1/3 innings, but he did manage to log two saves along the way. He very possibly could get some more time on the mound in 2026 as head coach James Ramsey did not rule out the possibility of using Hernandez in a pinch.
Hernandez is draft-eligible in 2026 as one of the top college sophomore draft prospects. While juniors Drew Burress, Vahn Lackey, and Jarren Advincula are projected to be first and second round picks, Hernandez could have a big up arrow next to his name on draft boards this spring and play his way into the same conversation.
More on Georgia Tech baseball:
Georgia Tech Weekend Series Preview: Bowling Green
It has been a long time since the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets came into a baseball season with as much hype as they have in 2026, and it’s finally time to see if they can live up to it.
Georgia Tech Baseball Player Preview: Drew Burress
Opening day for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is just two days away so it’s time to wrap up the player preview series with one of the best players in the entire country – Drew Burress.
Georgia Tech Baseball Player Preview: Vahn Lackey
With the February 13th opener this Friday, it’s time to round out the player preview series, with Vahn Lackey being the second to last player we’ll be specifically taking a look at.
Georgia Tech Baseball Focus 
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