The D-backs Nike RBI Senior Baseball (18U) team — behind the pitching and hitting of Tucson High Class of 2025 standout Juan Hernandez — earned the Nike RBI World Series seniors championship with a 5-4 walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh over Indy Nike RBI on Aug. 8 at Vero Beach, Fla.
The D-backs became the first team to go unbeaten (10-0) in the regional competition and World Series.
“It took us trusting each other, having faith in all of our coaches and every one of our players and being a team,” Hernandez said about winning the title to MLB Network. “This team is really special.”
Hernandez, who is headed to Pima College, was selected the MVP of the event.
Congratulations to Juan Hernandez on being named the NIKE RBI Sr. Baseball World Series @MLBDevelops MVP presented by @chevrolet pic.twitter.com/w5LWzs6r7i
— MLBRBI (@MLBRBI) August 14, 2025
In July, he was chosen the Most Outstanding Player of the Sun Belt College League championship series, leading the Show Sluggers to a championship.
Hernandez’s former Tucson High teammates Tenochtli Eli Nepan Ollin and Gennaro Brito were also members of the D-backs Nike RBI team. All three of the prospects train at Jet Sports Training.
Hernandez had a run-scoring single and also allowed only two hits in 6 2/3 innings on the mound against Indy in the championship game. He gave up three earned runs and also struck out six while walking three.
He put the D-backs on the board first in the first inning with an RBI single.
Hernandez sparked the game-winning rally by leading off the inning with a walk after working the count full.
He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Julio Reyna and then third on a single by Ricardo Fonseca.
Hernandez then ran home on a passed ball to tie the game at 3.
Consecutive walks loaded the bases with one out, but a fielder’s choice grounder resulted in the second out, a throw to home for the force out.
With Brito at the plate, another passed ball allowed the winning run to cross the plate.
“It means everything,” Hernandez said when asked what winning the MVP award means to him. “We’re all great competitors. I’m so happy to be with these guys.”
For his MVP accomplishment and performances throughout the Nike RBI World Series, Hernandez is the Jet Sports Training Athlete of the Month for August.
2025 MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH HONORS
January 2025: Desert View soccer player Jose Galaz
February 2025: Desert Christian basketball player Tyson Dobbins
March 2025: Catalina Foothills volleyball player Jacob Martinez
April 2025: Canyon del Oro baseball player Francisco Rivero
May 2025: Salpointe baseball player Colton Raetzman
June 2025: Sabino track runner Milo Mandolini
July 2025: Tucson Turf Elite standout Emeron Bourguet
August 2025: Tucson High baseball alum Juan Hernandez
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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