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Hensley, Hernandez Honored as Hooks Player and Pitcher of the Year

Infielder bookended most productive season as pro with hot streaks; Standout reliever nearly untouchable in second half
(Credit: Left photo: Charlie Blalock, Right photo: Blake Purcell)
September 23, 2021

CORPUS CHRISTI – Infielder David Hensley has been named 2021 Hooks Player of the Year and right-hander Nick Hernandez is the team’s Pitcher of the Year, the club announced Tuesday. A mainstay in the middle of the Hooks lineup all season, Hensley placed himself among the Double-A Central’s top hitters.

CORPUS CHRISTI – Infielder David Hensley has been named 2021 Hooks Player of the Year and right-hander Nick Hernandez is the team’s Pitcher of the Year, the club announced Tuesday.

A mainstay in the middle of the Hooks lineup all season, Hensley placed himself among the Double-A Central’s top hitters.

In a team-high 105 games this season, Hensley batted .293 (116-for-396) with 25 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 51 RBIs, 54 runs scored and 11 stolen bases with a .369 on-base percentage. He led the team in several offensive categories, including average, doubles, triples, RBIs, OBP and walks (46), many of which were personal career bests.

The San Diego, Ca. native ranked among league leaders in average (4th, .293), doubles (4th, 25), hits (4th, .116) and OBP (9th, .369).

Hensley turned heads right out of the gate in his Double-A debut, hitting the team’s first home run of the season Opening Night at Whataburger Field. Two games later, he recorded his first career multi-homer game to lead the Hooks to victory. He batted .321 with a .913 OPS in 20 games in May.

The high note of Hensley’s season came May 21, when he hit a dramatic two-run walk-off home run in the 11th inning to beat the Arkansas Travelers, 7-6.

Hensley, 25, had a pair of 18-game on-base streaks: May 18 to June 9 and July 10 through Aug. 4. He wrapped up the season hitting .418 with a 1.144 OPS over his final 14 games and reached base at a .432 clip in his last 44 overall.

A versatile infielder standing at 6-foot-6, Hensley started 46 games at second base, 35 games at shortstop, 17 games at third and nine games at first.

Hernandez, 26, made the most of his third stint in Corpus Christi, proving to be the most dependable reliever out of the Hooks’ bullpen.

The University of Houston product posted a 1.67 ERA (10 ER in 54.0 IP) with 68 strikeouts, a .152 opponents’ average and a 1.04 WHIP in 32 games (one start). He went 3-1 while going 6-for-7 in save chances.

After allowing four earned runs over a three-game span (5.2 IP) between June 5-12, Hernandez allowed just four earned runs the remainder of the season (37.1 IP) for a 0.96 ERA while opponents hit .128 against him.

Hernandez earned his first Triple-A promotion on Aug. 1, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings for Sugar Land that night. He was transferred back to Corpus Christi on Aug. 2, where he spent the rest of the season.

A native of Missouri City, Texas, Hernandez has spent parts of three seasons with the Hooks dating back to 2017. In 64 career games with Corpus Christi, he owns a 3.08 ERA (35 ER in 102.1 IP) with eight saves, a .177 opponents’ average and 1.17 WHIP.

Hernandez was an 8th round pick of the Astros in 2016, while Houston took Hensley in the 26th round in 2018 out of San Diego State.