Giants International Prospect’s ‘Insane Long-Term Upside’ on Display in Arizona

During spring training, the game action is at Scottsdale Stadium for the San Francisco Giants. The future is on the back fields.

Wander around the back fields at any team complex at this time of year and one is liable to wander into a simulated game or a live batting practice featuring the future of each ballclub. Some of it pans out, some of it doesn’t. But it tends to be exciting.

Right now, at the Giants’ team facility, one player demands everyone’s attention, according to Baseball America’s Jesus Cano — Luis Hernández.

“Whenever he steps up to the plate the attention around everywhere, whether there's multiple games going on, whether there's multiple scouts, player development, everybody just sits and just watches it, from his teammates to the random people that don't even you know necessarily know who he is,” Cano said during the “Hot Sheet” show. “They're just there to experience it.”

Luis Hernández, Buzz Builder

The talk of the backfields in Arizona?

Giants prospect Luis Hernandez. pic.twitter.com/WuHfHm3vI8
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 1, 2026

Hernández was just elevated to Top 100 prospect status by MLB Pipeline last weekend, the result of prospect graduations. It indicated that he was already close to being considered a Top 100 prospect after he signed a $5 million deal with the Giants in January as the top international prospect in the game.

The Giants will start him at their Arizona Complex League later this year, an unusual step for a 17-year-old prospect because most start their pro careers in the Dominican Summer League. San Francisco sees a mature approach at the plate and a shortstop who has already produced in a well-respected Venezuela league, Liga Mayor. He slashed .346/.386/.452 while striking out just 11 times in 114 plate appearances last season.

Cano was wandered the backfields in Arizona scouting players for Baseball America and said he sees a similar approach.

“He brings a polished, mature approach to the plate,” Cano said. “He really knows how to control the strike zone, and he keeps the swing short and quick and just consistently is able to put the balls in play and that's kind of what I've been able to see throughout the entire spring.”

Hernández is part of a glut of shortstops in the Giants system. After top prospect, Bryce Eldridge, who is a first baseman, MLB Pipeline’s next four San Francisco prospects are all listed at the position — Josuar Gonzalez, Hernández, Jhonny Level and Gavin Kilen, the last of which can also play second base.

Power can be a differentiator, and Cano sees a player in Hernández that could give San Francisco a considerable amount of that eventually.

“I think there's a lot of power that could come with it and when you look at his body right now for a 17-year-old kid I wouldn't say it's maxed out,” he said. “But I think he's definitely more physically advanced than most 17-year-olds. I'm not sure exactly how much room could come in but as he continues to mature and faces high-level pitching I think there's a legitimate chance to have 20-plus home runs.”

Action in the ACL starts later this spring. For now, Giants fans must seek him out on the back fields of the team’s complex to get a glimpse.