Bollinger: Recovered Hendriks hopes to reclaim starting job

[Seth Stohs]

Recovered Hendriks hopes to reclaim starting job | twinsbaseball.com: News

 

A year ago, Liam Hendriks made the starting rotation but was sent down a month later where he continued to put up incredible statistics as he had the two previous seasons. He struggled in the big leagues, so he's hoping to show that he can succeed.

 

"I'm kind of approaching it the same way as last year," Hendriks said. "This year, I'm going in there and trying to do what I did last spring and do well. I want to put my stamp on it and try to win that fifth spot."

 

I definitely continue to believe that he can be a solid big league mid-rotation starter.

[3up3down]

you know i am definately not as high on hendricks as most on here but i noticed in your interview that he is working to align his mechanics , hendricks throws across his body big time & i really hope thats not the part he is trying to fix because i think thats his only +, he is deceptive because pitching that far across his body hides the ball, if he changes that i will be even lower on him if thats possible.. if you can watch that in his pen & see if thats the part he is changing , if it is tackle him..

[Seth Stohs]

He throws 89-93, has a good changeup and a good curveball. He's got three MLB pitches and he has much better control than we saw in the big leagues in 2012. Don't make too much out of what you saw last year and see if he can perform up to the levels we saw from him when he flew through the minor leagues.

[3up3down]

I am pulling for the guy, i just see it different, more 88-91 which is definately enough velocity but it is just avg, with little movement or sink ,which makes it below avg.,below avg change & below avg curve, his control could be a plus , but thats his only upside that i see , control & deception..i dont think he makes the team out of camp but the twins will need him at some point this season..

[twinsnorth49]

I am a big fan of Hendricks and I think people underestimate his pitch mix and completely forget his age. I believe he's going to have a breakout year and be a nice surprise.

[LaBombo]

Improves in the second half and becomes Tapani Lite in 2014.

[jimbo92107]

I think LaBombo is pretty close on this one. Liam Hendriks is an efficient control pitcher, and his ceiling may well be something like a Kevin Tapani mid-rotation starter. I see no reason to downgrade my expectations for this young pitcher. His mechanics look good, he's a competitive guy, and he hasn't had a history of arm problems. Like a lot of young pitchers Hendriks had problems in his rookie season, mainly with sticking to his pitching strategy. This season I expect he will do a better job just throwing what the catcher tells him.

[Brad Swanson]

I think LaBombo is pretty close on this one. Liam Hendriks is an efficient control pitcher, and his ceiling may well be something like a Kevin Tapani mid-rotation starter. I see no reason to downgrade my expectations for this young pitcher. His mechanics look good, he's a competitive guy, and he hasn't had a history of arm problems. Like a lot of young pitchers Hendriks had problems in his rookie season, mainly with sticking to his pitching strategy. This season I expect he will do a better job just throwing what the catcher tells him.

 

I'll take it a step further and say I think Hendriks can be better than Tapani. Tapani didn't have the walk or strikeout rates that Hendriks posted in the minors. Hendriks' AAA numbers last season were really impressive. All the excitement over Kyle Gibson is justified, but Hendriks is over a year younger and actually has a better minor league track record. Both of these guys should be looked at as long-term rotation contributors.

[drjim]

I am pulling for the guy, i just see it different, more 88-91 which is definately enough velocity but it is just avg, with little movement or sink ,which makes it below avg.,below avg change & below avg curve, his control could be a plus , but thats his only upside that i see , control & deception..i dont think he makes the team out of camp but the twins will need him at some point this season..

 

This is what I see. I think he is a reasonable back of the rotation guy but I can't see much more. He lacks a true out pitch, but could eat innings thanks to his ability to control average pitches.

[Jim H]

I tend to agree with Seth on Hendriks. I think he has a good chance to be really good. Control is often overlooked when people talk about pitchers, but having the ability to stay out of the middle of plate and still get ahead of hitters is really important. Especially if you lack high ninetys velocity and/or overpowering stuff. That said, it looked like his curve and change up weren't as good as they need to be last year. As young as he is, there is a good chance that they will improve, or perhaps he will just trust them more.