After Two Strong Starts, Logan Henderson Has an Opportunity in Brewers Rotation

[Jack Stern]

Image courtesy of © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Just over three weeks after a strong big-league debut, Logan Henderson was similarly effective in his second start. The 23-year-old tossed five innings of two-run ball, helping the Brewers avoid a sweep by the Guardians in Cleveland.

“His second start right out of the Triple-A cooler, and he’s going out competing against a really hot team,” Pat Murphy said. “I thought he had a great outing.”

“Impressive stuff,” Rhys Hoskins said. “He’s super poised out there, and he’s executed pitches super well.”

In his first two outings, Henderson has struck out 40% of his batters faced. He’s doing it with the signature four-seam fastball and changeup combination that carried him through the minor leagues. He generates above-average backspin and carry on his four-seamer from a low three-quarters arm slot, making it challenging for hitters to get on top of. Pairing those heaters at the top of the zone with fading changeups at the bottom creates a difficult spread for opponents.

“Those are my bread and butter,” Henderson said, “so definitely feel confident about those.”

A whopping 92% of Henderson’s pitches so far have been either four-seamers or changeups. Opponents have whiffed on 28% of swings against the fastball and 35% of swings against the changeup.

His first two outings have demonstrated that the righthander can carve through opposing lineups with just those two offerings, particularly when they are unfamiliar with them in their first meetings. The key to sustained success remains the development of a reliable third pitch, with glove-side movement. At some point, it will become necessary to keep guys off his fastball and changeup and give him another option—particularly if either of those pitches is not sharp on a given day.

Finding that third offering can be a challenge for natural pronators like Henderson. So far, his cutter and slider have featured inconsistent movement, and neither has emerged as a reliable pitch. He’s aware of that, and while he will continue pitching to his strengths, he remains focused on rounding out his arsenal.

“I know the cutter and slider have a lot of work to do,” he said. “It’s primarily going to be fastball and changeup, but the more I can throw the cutter and slider in there, it’s going to camouflage my other two best pitches.”

Henderson flashed both pitches during his second foray through the Cleveland lineup, including three sliders in his final inning.

“He brought out a couple sliders and cutters that second and third time through, just to throw a new wrinkle at them,” Hoskins said. “Which is a huge thing for a starter to be able to complete that third time through, or at least that two-and-a-half times through a lineup.”

With no need in the starting rotation a few weeks ago, the Brewers optioned Henderson back to Triple-A Nashville after an impressive debut. He has a chance to stick around longer this time. With José Quintana hitting the injured list and an ankle injury pausing Brandon Woodruff’s rehab, Henderson will get a few more starts.

“I mean, he’s two-for-two for me,” Murphy said. “That’s a good start. And he’s poised.”

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