Liam Hendriks

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #7 prospect in 2012
  One of the highlights of the Twins' extensive Australian efforts, Hendriks reached the majors in 2011 after overcoming a litany of obstacles. He has had two knee surgeries (one before he signed on his 18th birthday) and an emergency appendectomy that kept him from participating in the 2010 Futures Game. He bounced back to work a career-high 163 innings last season and appeared in the prospect showcase in July. Hendriks fits Minnesota's mold as a four-pitch/command starter. His fastball often sits at 86-92 mph and peaks at 94. He uses both two- and four-seamers, complementing his sinker with a solid slider. When he's in rhythm, Hendriks peppers the bottom of the zone and commands his fastball to his arm side, allowing him to induce weak contact with his slider and above-average changeup on the other side of the plate. He also mixes in a curveball as a fourth pitch. He's a strong competitor and good athlete, both owing in part to his family's Australian rules football background. Hendriks could use more Triple-A time, but he's ready for a back-of-the-rotation gig in Minnesota if the opportunity arises. He has an outside chance of becoming a No. 3 starter.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #6 prospect in 2011
  Hendriks' father played in Australian Rules Football and Hendriks also played the sport before the Twins signed him for $170,000 in 2007. He almost immediately had knee surgery (his second), then missed all of 2008 and half of 2009 following back surgery. He stayed healthy enough to make a run at the minor league ERA title last season, though an appendectomy in July knocked him out of the Futures Game. Hendriks repeats his compact, efficient delivery and pumps four quality pitches for strikes. He has good sinking life on his fastball, which sat at 86-91 mph early in the season but jumped to 90-93 mph when he returned from the appendectomy. His slider is tight and short with late break, and some scouts consider it his best pitch. Others prefer his changeup, and his curveball--his best pitch prior to the back surgery--isn't far behind. He also throws a cutter at times. Hendriks has true command and a knack for making pitches, keeping the ball in the ballpark. Scouts in and out of the organization laud his makeup. Hendriks pitched in Australia's resurgent winter league in the offseason, getting useful extra work. He's ticketed for Double-A in 2011 and could become the best product of the Twins' extensive Australian scouting efforts.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: One of the highlights of the Twins' extensive Australian efforts, Hendriks reached the majors in 2011 after overcoming a litany of obstacles. He has had two knee surgeries (one before he signed on his 18th birthday) and an emergency appendectomy that kept him from participating in the 2010 Futures Game. He bounced back to work a career-high 163 innings last season and appeared in the prospect showcase in July. Scouting Report: Hendriks fits Minnesota's mold as a command-oriented starter. His fastball often sits at 86-92 mph and peaks at 94. He uses both two- and four-seamers, complementing his sinker with a solid slider. When he's in rhythm, Hendriks peppers the bottom of the zone and commands his fastball to his arm side, allowing him to induce weak contact with his slider and above-average changeup to his glove side. He mixes in a curveball as a fourth pitch. He's a strong competitor and good athlete, both owing in part to his family's Australian rules football background. The Future: Hendriks could use more Triple-A time, but he's ready for a back-of-the-rotation gig in Minnesota if the need arises. He has an outside shot of becoming a No. 3 starter.