Liam Hendriks

[Hoss4476]

I think a lot of people seem to be overlooking him. I think he could still be a big part of our rotation. I know his time in the Majors last year didn't really impress anyone, but he had some good starts (including shutting out Detroit for 7 innings) and he had an outstanding year in Rochester. You would think some of the success could easily carry over to the majors eventually. He has a little more experience this year maybe he can surprise us.

 

Liam Hendriks Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball

 

Liam Hendriks Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio | twinsbaseball.com: Team

[edavis0308]

I'm not sure if its the fact that he is being overlooked so much as it is that we need to see him put things together at the major league level before you can rely on him for the whole year.

[greengoblinrulz]

Huge believer in him.

Have no doubt he'll start season as #5 starter (if he's not dealt this offseason which was my prediction early).

Could be helped by having a better INF defense.....but Plouffe/Florimon are gonna be historically bad left side (one defense/one offensively)

[Rick Niedermann]

I just don't see it. He has no out pitch. Doesn't overpower anybody. I never see him transitioning into anything more then a AAAA pitcher at best. We have plenty of those types already. I'd take my chances with PJ Walters or Sam Deduno before I'd pencil this guy into the rotation.

[Hoss4476]

I just don't see it. He has no out pitch. Doesn't overpower anybody. I never see him transitioning into anything more then a AAAA pitcher at best. We have plenty of those types already. I'd take my chances with PJ Walters or Sam Deduno before I'd pencil this guy into the rotation.

 

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | DET@MIN: Hendriks shuts out Tigers over seven frames - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

 

I couldn't disagree with you more. In the minors he has shown control and command which if you put the ball wherever you want it in the zone that is an out pitch. His last start against Detroit was very good and he put on the black a few times for outs. He also has shown a decent amount of strikeouts in Rochester (82K's for 106.1 IP). I think he has shown he has command and control which definitely makes him better than a AAAA pitcher.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I just don't see it. He has no out pitch. Doesn't overpower anybody. I never see him transitioning into anything more then a AAAA pitcher at best. We have plenty of those types already. I'd take my chances with PJ Walters or Sam Deduno before I'd pencil this guy into the rotation.

 

PJ Walters? Over Hendriks? Really?

 

You have to be joking. I don't think Hendriks will ever be a very good pitcher but at least he is 23 and has dominated the minors. That's more than Walters has ever done.

[Riverbrian]

I think Hendriks just needs to get a few batters out... He needs to feel like he can pitch at the MLB level. Just my opinion... He seemed to be a little overwhelmed. Pitched a little scared... In my opinion.

 

I ain't over looking... I'm hopeful he puts it together and is locked in solid for 2014. For 2013... I think TR will bring in another pitcher and Hendriks will start in AAA... As the year goes forward... Rochester will be needed and up comes Gibson and Hendriks. When that time comes... I hope they grab the bull by the horns and cement themselves a major league career.

[edavis0308]

Is Slowey a good comp for him, stats in the minors wise? I honestly don't remember specifics from Slowey's minor.league career.

 

Edit. I checked to compare AAA stats and WHIP, BB/9 and K/9 are pretty similar. I'm mobile so I can't really link to it.

[nicksaviking]

I find it more likely Hendriks is a useful pitcher in 2013 than I do Correia or Pelfry. Though his intro into the AL was rough last year, his limited experience is still more than those two combined, and while he will not be a big strikeout pitcher, he will still miss a hell of a lot more bats than those two.

[Physics Guy]

Is Slowey a good comp for him, stats in the minors wise? I honestly don't remember specifics from Slowey's minor.league career.

 

I'd say Slowey is a good comp:

 

Hendriks through Age 23 in the minors:

482IP, 2.65 ERA, 1.064 WHIP, 7.9/1.6 K9/BB9

 

Slowey (Age 28)

466.1, 2.45., 0.934, 8.4/1.4

 

Walters (Age 27 - really, you think he is better Rick?)

760.1, 4.06, 1.349, 8.4/3.1

[Brock Beauchamp]

I find it more likely Hendriks is a useful pitcher in 2013 than I do Correia or Pelfry. Though his intro into the AL was rough last year, his limited experience is still more than those two combined, and while he will not be a big strikeout pitcher, he will still miss a hell of a lot more bats than those two.

 

Agreed. I'm not a big Hendriks fan but there's a chance he turns into Scott Diamond with a few more Ks (not many, just a few more).

 

Correia and Pelfrey, not so much.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm a huge believer in Liam Hendriks. Having talked to him several times, he is very smart, great baseball IQ, knows how to pitch. I think he experiences a little struggle last year for the first time, and he probably over-thought. t kind of looked like that at least. He's got better control of three pitches than he showed in the big leagues last year. He's just got to relax.

 

The comp to Slowey is fair, and it shows how you just never know with any prospect. Slowey missed a lot of bats in the minors without walking people, and to this point, he's only had some big league success. There are a lot of pitchers having good MLB careers who didn't put up nearly the nmbers that Slowey or Hendriks have put up in the minors. So, you never know, but I will stand behind my thinking that Hendriks can be a solid #3 for years. If I'm wrong, so be it.

[edavis0308]

Just for the record, the Slowey comparison was meant as a positive, not a slight. Dude put up solid numbers in the minors.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

If he can eat innings effectively as a #3-4 that would be great. Need these guys as well (especially cheap, team controlled ones).

[Mike Sixel]

He should be up all year ....let's see what he has.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Just for the record, the Slowey comparison was meant as a positive, not a slight. Dude put up solid numbers in the minors.

 

I still wonder what life for Slowey would have been like had he not been hit in the wrist by that liner... He looked like he was breaking out before that day...

[70charger]

I was just thinking of starting this thread, and here it is. Good stuff.

 

I've been on record saying that I'm a believer in Hendriks. His minor league track record is outstanding, and he got his first taste of the bigs at only 22 years old. Of course there are no sure things in baseball, but I'll take that.

 

Besides, there were many pitchers who turned out well who struggled in their first taste of the show. Frank Viola ring a bell? He needs more time to put it all together, and we need more time to really know what we have. I think he should be making starts all year.

[edavis0308]

I'm just crossing my fingers it's this year he puts it together. Not next year. We really need him to be aggressive and step up. He really is an ace in the hole for us.

[Physics Guy]

I was just thinking of starting this thread, and here it is. Good stuff.

 

I've been on record saying that I'm a believer in Hendriks. His minor league track record is outstanding, and he got his first taste of the bigs at only 22 years old. Of course there are no sure things in baseball, but I'll take that.

 

Besides, there were many pitchers who turned out well who struggled in their first taste of the show. Frank Viola ring a bell? He needs more time to put it all together, and we need more time to really know what we have. I think he should be making starts all year.

 

I'm with you on hoping Hendriks is destined for better days. I believe I looked a few weeks back and saw similar numbers to Liam from Frankie V and Milton when they first came up. I just wish Gardy would give him the time that Kelly gave the other two. I'd say he has nothing to lose as most don't expect much from the Twins this year, but another bad season costs Gardy his job. I hope Liam gets out of the gates quickly this year.

[Shane Wahl]

Hendriks will be good enough in the long-term as a 4 or 5 starter and decent enough in 2013 to be a fifth starter. He is simply going to get better. He has the brains and has the capability to be Diamond-esque to some degree. The same CANNOT be said for Correia or Blackburn. Pelfrey is interesting to me to some degree.

[jorgenswest]

It takes great patience to develop young players. Numerous good pitchers struggled early in the majors. The solution is to let them struggle in the majors once they have shown reasonable success on the way up. Hendriks is not going to learn how to get major league hitters out in AAA.

 

The Twins can afford to be patient.

[Shane Wahl]

Let's say that the signings are over!

 

Diamond

Worley

Correia (I guess)

Hendriks

Blackburn/Pelfrey/Deduno/DeVries/Walters

 

The fifth starter here is A: holding down the fort for Gibson to join the rotation if the Twins are smart and really limit his AAA innings until June, and B: serving as a replacement in case Correia or Hendriks falters. Correia WILL falter, unfortunately.

 

This is bad and is only moderately better than last year's April starters. This is terrifying.

[greengoblinrulz]

In several Hendriks starts, I noticed he'd miss on a 3rd out strike on a questionable call and it would extend the inning 5-10-20 pitches. Other starts, Id notice a bad defensive play that wasnt ruled an errror but should have been made. As he gets more expereience & gets those close calls from umpires, he'll keep his pitch counts lower & use his control as his out pitch. I just thought he's had some bad luck along the way so far.

I think he's got a bit above average stuff but struggled mightily with confidence. He showed his stuff matching up with Felix & shutting down DET. I also think he struggled with the mindgames of getting his first win.

We shall see, but he's my 'under the radar' pick this season to break out.

[twinsfaninsaudi]

I find it more likely Hendriks is a useful pitcher in 2013 than I do Correia or Pelfry. Though his intro into the AL was rough last year, his limited experience is still more than those two combined, and while he will not be a big strikeout pitcher, he will still miss a hell of a lot more bats than those two.

 

Pelfrey and Correua have probably pitched more inning against the AL than Hendricks. Probably more in AL parks too.

[glunn]

I just don't see it. He has no out pitch. Doesn't overpower anybody. I never see him transitioning into anything more then a AAAA pitcher at best. We have plenty of those types already. I'd take my chances with PJ Walters or Sam Deduno before I'd pencil this guy into the rotation.

 

I saw him pitch in Anaheim last year and his lack of an out pitch was a major problem. I wish that he could develop one.

 

In contrast, almost everything that Deduno throws seems like it could be an out pitch, if only he would not walk so many people.

 

As for Walters, it seems to me that he just needs to elevate everything that he does, assuming that he is capable of that.

[Falcon25]

Does anyone think that hendriks turned the corner in the last month? Statistically he lead the starters in ERA over the las month which included the Yankees outing. However, go back and watch that game pitch by pitch. Four poor pitches in the same spot with the same result which I am sure he won't do again. I thought he started to trust his stuff and was prepared to go inside and out to both left and right hand hitters which he wasn't doing consistently in his earlier appearances. His confidence I felt was growing. I like a number of other views think he has an upside but the proof will be if he can continue to improve and become consistent. Anyone know how his rehab is going?

[johnnydakota]

Agreed. I'm not a big Hendriks fan but there's a chance he turns into Scott Diamond with a few more Ks (not many, just a few more).

 

Correia and Pelfrey, not so much.

 

Just remember the day Liam Squared off against King Felix....Im hoping and praying Hendriks is this years Diamond

the Twins need a break sometimes right?

[Brandon]

Hopefully the Twins sign 1 more pitcher this offseason and have lots of competition for the rotation spots with Pelfry, Correia competing with Gibson, Hendricks, Dedunno, and Devries and I guess Blakburn for the last 2 spots. It would be nice if Blackburn came back with a new pitch to go with his sinker and started getting people out.

 

Since this is about Hendricks I will go on record that I believe he has the potential to be good but he has to earn the right to pitch in the rotation and if he can continue to show improvment with his opportunuties and consistantly get hitters out then yeah he could be a starter up here. but so far he has not been someone to count on till a couple of last september starts. I wouldn't want to bank on that for 2013. with several starts and a good season in AAA maybe. with the starters we are brining in so far. Pelfry and Gibson comming off of injuries and Correia with the potential to not be good should give Hendrick opportunites to come up and pitch. so maybe 2014 will be a better year to count on him.

[beckmt]

I am not a believer in Henricks. Hard to tell on minor league stats, because you can avoid the 2 - 3 good hitters each club has in major situtations. Many major league clubs have 7-9 hitters that can hurt you. Hope he works out, but worried if he is a depended upon option. Note: Terry Ryan must agree as he is signing many pitchers to compete with Henricks for a spot in the bottom of the rotation.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just remember the day Liam Squared off against King Felix....Im hoping and praying Hendriks is this years Diamond

the Twins need a break sometimes right?

 

Given what JR has rounded up for a rotation in 2013, the Twins will need a productive Hendriks and Gibson sooner rather than later.

 

This is how I view the rotation right now:

 

1. Worley (great pick-up, should be a #3-ish guy)

2. Diamond (a #3-ish guy that is probably due for regression)

3. Pelfrey (not a bad pick-up but a little baffling in the wake of passing on Baker)

4. Correia (I'm just going to skip watching these games)

5. Scrub/Hendriks/Gibson (sigh... Hendriks and Gibson will have to pitch their way beyond the #5 spot early in the season or we're looking at another 90+ loss season)