Brad Hennessey
| IP | 360 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.7 |
| WHIP | 1.492 |
| BB/9 | 3.675 |
| SO/9 | 4.8 |
- Full name Brad Martin Hennessey
- Born 02/07/1980 in Toledo, OH
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Youngstown State
- Debut 08/07/2004
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Drafted in the 1st round (21st overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2001 (signed for $1,380,000).
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Once the No. 3 starter on his high school staff, Hennessey made the conversion to full-time pitcher and the result was dramatic. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound righthander now projects as high as a second-round pick. Hennessey split time as a pitcher and middle infielder in 2000 and never performed well in either role. As a pitcher only, his fastball jumped from 85-87 mph to 91-92 with a high of 95. He added a hard slider that became his best pitch when he bumped up the velocity to an impressive 85-87 mph. His record was 6-5, 4.06, but he improved every time out and his nine-inning average of 12.8 strikeouts was one of the best in Division I. Scouts like his athleticism and graceful, fluid actions, and see a lot of untapped potential.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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One of baseball's best stories last year, Hennessey missed all of 2002 and half of 2003 after having two operations to remove benign tumors from his back. The Giants weren't sure they'd get a return on the third-largest signing bonus in club history ($1.38 million), but Hennessey reached the majors in his first full season back. Hennessey's slider is an above-average strikeout pitch with sharp two-plane bite. His fastball touches 93 mph, but it's more effective when he keeps it at 89-91. At that reduced velocity, he commands it better and throws it with more life down in the zone. He's athletic, has a clean delivery and his makeup is as good as it gets. Hennessey has a tendency to push his fastball and his changeup. When he does, both pitches flatten out and he becomes him hittable. He could stand to get stronger, as would be expected after his layoff and surgeries. Hennessey's stuff fits the profile of a setup man if the Giants need him in that role, but they like his upside as a starter, particularly if he can get his fastball and changeup to sink consistently. Unless he has a huge spring, he'll probably open 2005 at Triple-A Fresno. -
Hennessey went from obscurity to the first round of the 2001 draft on the strength of his slider, which Giants scouts alternately rated as a 75 or 80 on the 20-to-80 scale during the spring. He also possesses plenty of athleticism and a fresh arm, the result of his intriguing college career. Hennessey was a No. 3 starter on his Toledo high school team and went to Youngstown State as a two-way player. He was the club's shortstop for most of 2000, earning a few innings as a reliever and posting a 7.75 ERA. He convinced coach Mike Florak to make him a starter last spring, and his stuff took off as he shared the Mid-Continent Conference pitcher of the year award with Oral Roberts' Michael Rogers. In addition to his wicked slider, which has a tight rotation and sharp, late break, Hennessey throws a 91-92 mph fastball that touched 95 in the spring, plus a quick arm. He still has much to learn about pitching, such as an offspeed pitch, and was worn out in instructional league, so the Giants will bring him along slowly.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Along with Gautreau the only first-round picks on this list, Hennessey pitched just enough to show league managers he was legitimate. He wasn't on the prospect radar coming into the season before convincing his college coach to move him from shortstop to the mound on a full-time basis. Hennessey, who did pitch with some regularity in high school, came to the Giants with a fresh arm, a slight frame ready to get stronger and a low-90s fastball. His biggest strength is a wicked slider that he just picked up this year and delivers from a low three-quarters angle. He also has a changeup and curveball. "He's a good athlete and you can tell he used to be a shortstop," Stanley said. "He's got a quick arm. Right now he's putting everything he's got into every pitch. I think if he learns to take something off, he'll take off."
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Slider in the San Francisco Giants in 2005
