David Herndon
| IP | 117 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.846 |
| WHIP | 1.479 |
| BB/9 | 3.231 |
| SO/9 | 5.846 |
- Full name Kenneth David Herndon
- Born 09/04/1985 in Panama City, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Gulf Coast CC
- Debut 04/05/2010
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Drafted in the 5th round (162nd overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2006 (signed for $157,500).
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A 23rd-round draft-and-follow from 2005, Herndon was expected to garner a six-figure signing bonus from the Twins after performing well in his second season in junior college. Herndon's bread and butter is a hard, heavy fastball that he throws at 90-93 mph. He stays on top the pitch well and throws it on a downhill plane. He pitches aggressively, pounding the strike zone and working off his fastball with solid-average command. His secondary stuff is less reliable. He's shown a slider and a curveball, but neither has true break. His slider is the better of the two pitches presently, but he needs to stay down and through it upon release. His changeup is a show-me offering with potential for improvement. He struggles against lefthanded hitters. Herndon needs to improve his mental toughness on the mound. He could be drafted as high as the fifth round if he re-enters the draft, and sentiment among scouts is he wants to sign rather than continuing his college career.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A 23rd-round pick of the Twins in 2005, Herndon emerged as a top draft-and-follow the next spring. When Minnesota heeded MLB's wishes to keep spending down and didn't meet Herndon's asking price, he re-entered the 2006 draft, went in the fifth round and quickly signed for $157,500. He made steady progress in his first two pro seasons but hit the wall last spring in high Class A, going 2-6, 5.94 in 12 starts. Moved to the bullpen, he immediately took to his new role, posting a 2.90 ERA and converting 17 of 19 save opportunities. He also performed well as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League. Herndon's top pitch is his fastball, a heavy sinker that usually sits in the low 90s and produces a slew of groundballs. His secondary pitches never were consistent when he pitched as a starter, and they aren't as crucial now that he's a reliever. His slider shows tilt at times and ranks ahead of his changeup. Herndon has little difficulty throwing strikes, so if he can just refine his slider into a reliable second option, he should move quickly. He'll step up to Double-A this season. -
Major League Baseball not only has clamped down on bonuses in the first 10 rounds of the draft, but it also has tried to keep the cost of draft-and-follows down as well. The Twins wanted to sign Herndon, their 23rd-round pick in 2005, after he spent the spring at Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC. But they acceded to MLB's wishes and didn't fork over the bonus they knew he'd get when he re-entered the draft. The Angels jumped on him in the fifth round and quickly signed him for $157,500. Herndon's bread and butter is a hard, heavy sinker that he throws at 90-93 mph, topping out at 95. Herndon achieves maximum extension in his delivery, which produces the life on his pitches. His durable, 6-foot-5 frame allows him to pitch downhill. He used both a curveball and a slider as an amateur, but scrapped his curve after signing. His slider is a fringe-average offering that occasionally shows sharp, late tilt. His changeup is an average, usable third offering. He has solid-average command. Herndon struggled against lefthanders in junior college and at Orem, where they batted .271 against him (compared to .214 by righties). A potential workhorse No. 4 starter in the big leagues, Herndon likely will begin 2007 in low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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When the Twins didn't sign Herndon as a 23rd-round draft-and-follow selection from 2005, the Angels took him in the fifth round this year and signed him for $157,500. Though his velocity was down a little after he pitched 99 innings at Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC, he still was able to finish second to O'Sullivan in the ERA race. With a perfect pitcher's body, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Herndon is capable of eating a lot of innings. The Angels didn't let him go deep into games in the Pioneer League, but he should be at full strength next year. Herndon pitched at 90-92 mph as a pro, down from 91-94 in the spring, and his fastball has exceptional sinking movement that induces ground balls and prompts comparisons to Brandon Webb. Herndon still must make progress with his secondary offerings. His slider is inconsistent, though a plus pitch at times, and he's developing a changeup with late fade.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Control in the Los Angeles Angels in 2009
