Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Former Illinois Springfield right-handed pitcher Esteban Hernandez has signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, the organization announced this week.

Hernandez was signed as a free agent on Feb. 3, 2026, and was assigned to the Florida Complex League (FCL) Braves on Feb. 4.

During the 2025 season at UIS, Hernandez was a member of the Prairie Stars’ starting rotation and posted a 6-0 record, including a win in the GLVC Tournament. He appeared in 14 games with 13 starts, logging 63.1 innings pitched with 55 strikeouts, good for a 7.8 strikeouts-per-nine innings (K/9) rate. Hernandez earned Second Team All-GLVC honors and was also named GLVC Baseball Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 10, 2025.

Hernandez helped lead a UIS team that finished 36-16, advanced to the GLVC Tournament championship game, and narrowly missed an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Prairie Stars’ pitching staff combined for 387 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .270 batting average during the season.

A transfer from Southeast Missouri (SEMO), Hernandez compiled 114.1 career innings across stops at SEMO and UIS, striking out 106 batters in 47 appearances. He developed into a consistent starter during his time in Springfield after beginning his collegiate career primarily in a relief role.

A native of Yuma, Ariz., Hernandez is a graduate of Cibola High School and continues a tradition of UIS baseball student-athletes advancing to the professional ranks with his signing by the Braves.