Teoscar Hernández: Toronto's Clutch Hitter

While some Blue Jays have struggled in late and close situations, Teoscar Hernández has thrived

Some guys just have it.

People call it clutch, Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette calls it "calming the situation," and some players can do it better than others. In 2021, Teoscar Hernández is one of those guys.

Toronto's struggles in close games this season have been well documented — they own the second-fewest late and close runs in all of baseball (34). But, regardless of situation or stress, Hernández's production remains unchanged. 

Despite missing a chunk of the season with COVID-19, Toronto's right fielder has carried momentum from his silver slugging 2020 into a full 2021. In 100 games this year, Hernández is hitting .317 with 22 homers, 84 RBI, and his first-ever all-star game appearance.

While many of Toronto's top hitters have had numbers fall off in key situations, Hernandez's tick the other direction. Facing other team's top shut-down relievers in late and close situations his OPS is .829, with two outs and runners in scoring position his OPS is .829, and when a game is within one run, the outfielder steps up with an OPS of 1.013. 

"There's nothing different," Hernández said. "When I get a pitch to hit I'm just putting the ball in play with hard contact. I'm not doing anything different."

He owns the highest wRC+ in high leverage on the Blue Jays, is one of just three Toronto hitters with an OPS over .800 in late and close situations, and has thrived in key AL East games. Putting a consistent and clutch slugger behind any combination of Marcus Semien, George Springer, Vlad Guerrero Jr., and Bo Bichette is a recipe for runs.

Blue Jays qualified high leverage hitting statistics, sorted by wRC+

FanGraphs

Hitting fourth or fifth for most of the season, Hernández has been thrust into the most high leverage situations on the team (42 PA), and he's flourished more than any other Toronto hitter. In leverage in 2021, Hernández is hitting .475, has grounded into only one double play, and has 23 RBI — as many as Semien, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Cavan Biggio combined.

"He's probably been our most consistent hitter this year," manager Charlie Montoyo said. "I just love talking to him right now because of his confidence. When you talk to any player in the big leagues and they have confidence, they're gonna do what he's doing."

There has been an undeniable element of luck to Hernández's 2021 clutch, with a .643 high leverage BABIP and a career high leverage OPS of just .743. But he's still getting the big hits to fall.

Montoyo called his right fielder one of the best hitters in baseball this weekend — "right up there with Mike Trout and those guys" — and when it matters most this season, Hernández is proving his manager right.

All statistics as of August 17, 2021.

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