Hernandez Is Ahead of Curve Behind Plate

Baseball scouts don’t mind traveling long distances if that’s what it takes to discover a good catcher.

The No. 1 prospect at a position that is one of the toughest to fill plays in Palm Springs, a 110-mile one-way trip from downtown Los Angeles.

Landon Hernandez, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior, is the standout catcher for tiny Desert Chapel, which has 98 students enrolled in the high school portion of its kindergarten-through-12th-grade school.

He has been attending the Christian school since fourth grade. Baseball players throughout Palm Springs know of Hernandez, whose hitting and catching skills are bringing him growing respect nationally as well.

Last summer, he hit a three-run home run to help the U.S. national youth team defeat Taiwan, 11-7, in the gold-medal game of the International Baseball Federation’s World Youth Championships before 14,000 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Hernandez went eight for 20 over seven games in the tournament, hitting two home runs and driving in 10 runs.

He has used his experiences in travel and summer ball to prove he can compete against a much higher level of competition than what he faces during the high school season.

He continues to attend Desert Chapel because his family appreciates the close-knit environment created by a 10-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio.

“You can learn a lot more,” he said. “You don’t go anywhere without knowing everyone. It’s like a 75-person family. Everyone’s real close.”

Hernandez lives with his mother in Cathedral City but enjoys trips to Orange County, Riverside or Los Angeles to test himself against other players.

He has been playing catcher since he was 12 and thrives on blocking pitches in the dirt. He understands why scouts have a hard time finding quality catchers.

“It’s difficult because no one wants to do the position,” he said. “When we’re little, everyone wants to be the shortstop. A lot of kids would get [hit] by a foul ball and would keep that bad image in their head and not want to do it again. I like it because I always get the ball. It gives me something to do so I won’t be bored.”

Toughness combined with a sense of fearlessness are the job’s requirements. Bumps and bruises are common despite the mask, shin guards and chest protector.

“It’s part of being a catcher,” he said. “You catch the ball. You have to stop the ball any way possible. If it takes taking one off the shoulder without a pad or off the face mask, that’s what you have to do.”

Hernandez suffered a stinger when a foul ball hit his shoulder in Taiwan, sidelining him for two games. But he was quickly back trying to stop balls.

“You get your chest lined up with the ball, and you have to slide all the time,” he said. “You have to always anticipate the ball. The pitcher is not perfect. He’s human. You have to anticipate it’s going to be on the ground, and you need to stop it.”

College and professional scouts complain that the catcher position is not particularly strong in Southern California, but Hernandez is a player capable of establishing a high standard of excellence.

“I was impressed with his skills,” said Don Freeman, his coach on the U.S. youth team. “I know the pitchers enjoyed throwing to him.”

And the baserunners learned not to run on him.

Freeman said Hernandez was 13 for 13 throwing out runners and took away part of the offensive game plan for Cuba and Taiwan by preventing them from stealing.

Hernandez has picked up where he left off at the plate, too, going 12 for 15 with 10 RBIs in his first five games for Desert Chapel.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.