Payton Henry

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #23 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Henry was the Brewers’ sixth-round pick in 2016 and reached High-A in 2019. He was dealt from Milwaukee to Miami in the summer of 2021 for John Curtiss. He made his big league debut on Sept. 17.
  
  Scouting Report: For one scintillating turn in big league spring training, Henry looked like the Brewers’ catcher of the future. He’s largely failed to hit since then, and is now viewed as more of a glove-first backup. He still hit the ball fairly hard in the minor leagues and doesn’t strike out an exorbitant amount, but he doesn’t get the ball in the air enough to turn his positive traits into assets. He had four passed balls in 511 innings in the minor leagues and caught runners at a 36% clip as well, seemingly giving him the chops needed to stick in the big leagues.
  
  The Future: Scouts are not bullish on Henry’s bat, but his defensive prowess gives him a chance to be the kind of glove-first catcher who carves out a career as a backup and hits toward the bottom of a lineup.
  
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #16 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Brewers like both the tangibles and intangibles of Henry, which is why they invited him to their spring camp in 2019 after three seasons as a pro, without being on the 40-man roster. They wanted him to benefit from being around the big league catchers and continue to soak up knowledge while getting to watch how they go about their daily work. Henry then went out and put together a solid if not sensational season at high Class A Carolina while sharing time with another top catching prospect, Mario Feliciano.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: He has the physical strength to generate power at the plate as well as handle the rigorous duties of a catcher over a full season. As with many power hitters, Henry has some significant swing-and-miss to his offensive game and must work to improve a lopsided strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2019 (142 to 26). As he matures and learns not to chase so many pitches off the plate, his OBP should tick upward. Behind the plate, Henry has a strong arm that discourages opponents from taking liberties on the base paths. He has a quick release that helps with pop times and club officials love the way he works behind the plate, shows energy and takes charge of games.
  
  THE FUTURE: No one will outwork him, and he certainly has the tools and work ethic to become an everyday, power-hitting catcher in the majors. He was scratched from an Arizona Fall League assignment because of an MCL sprain in his left knee but recovered fully from that injury.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #12 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Following two years in Rookie-ball after signing for $550,600 as a sixth-round pick in 2016, Henry moved to full-season ball in 2018 and played the entire season as low Class A Wisconsin's No. 1 catcher. Though his .234 batting average and overall numbers weren't impressive, the Brewers loved his take-charge approach behind the plate, high energy level and leadership skills he displayed.
  
  Scouting Report: Henry has physical strength that plays on both sides of the ball. He has above-average raw power that should continue to develop, although he still has some swing and miss to his game as well as a tendency to try to pull the ball too often. Henry manages the strike zone decently well, drawing enough walks to assure a fine on-base percentage. Behind the plate, Payton is a solid defender with above-average arm strength that helps him control the run game. He threw out 35 percent of attempted base stealers in 2018 while showing sub-1.95 second pop times, an above-average to plus arm.
  
  The Future: Henry's intangibles and defense behind the plate give him a strong foundation to work from, as does his budding power. He'll try to take the next steps as an overall hitter at high Class A Carolina in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #28 prospect in 2018
  The Brewers liked Henry's potential enough to nearly double the recommended bonus for his slot, paying $550,600 for him to forgo a scholarship to Brigham Young. Playing high school ball for his father, he was a two-time Gatorade player of the year in the state of Utah. Henry is a physical catcher with above-average power and good bat speed, and he flashed power potential with 17 doubles and seven home runs at Rookie-level Helena in 2017, although with considerable swing-and-miss and a 29 percent strikeout rate. Henry gets too pull-happy at times, and it affects his overall hitting ability. A below-average runner, he'll have no impact on the basepaths. Henry has a ways to go with his footwork behind the plate, but overall is a good defender with an above-average arm that produces sub-1.95 second pop times. Henry showed progress in calling games and has the potential to be a solid catcher with a power bat. Henry should be ready for his first full-season assignment in 2018.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #153 prospect in 2016 draft
  It's not often that Utah high school position players sign out of the draft rather than heading off to college, with Henry the most likely candidate to forgo college since Seattles's 2010 2nd round pick Marcus Littlewood. The Brigham Young commit is a physical catcher with above-average raw power and very good bat speed. There's a lot of swing-and-miss when he's at the plate and scouts question about how well he will handle better velocity than he's faced this spring. Henry has improved considerably behind the plate in the past year, becoming more agile and showing an average arm. He may go off the board in the first five rounds or could be a tougher sign due to his BYU commitment.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #18 prospect in 2019
  Part of a two-prospect catching duo with Carolina, Henry impressed with his framing ability, leadership and power. He tied for fourth in the league in home runs and was third in RBIs. After being invited to major league camp a year ahead of 40-man roster eligibility, Henry spent the whole season with the Mudcats. Scouts like his strength and toughness. Henry has a plus arm and a stellar 1.89 pop time. He’s older than fellow Mudcats catcher Mario Feliciano and may take more time to develop, but he has already caught the eye of Brewers manager Craig Counsell.
• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #18 prospect in 2017
  Henry was Helena's primary catcher in his second pro season, and he became more consistent behind the plate with added experience. He made progress in calling games and consistently showed plus pop times on throws to second base, though his arm plays down because of poor footwork. He threw out 28 percent of basestealers in 2017, up from 19 percent last year. He has a stiff, slow body, with observers noting that he needs to get himself in better condition. Henry had some of the best raw power in the PL, with quick hands and good bat speed but with a long swing. He gets pull happy and needs to work on using the other side of the field. He projects to be a power over hit type when he starts generating more loft with his swing. "He grew a lot," Helena manager Nestor Corredor said, "(He can be a) really good defender with a potential power bat."

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Henry was the Brewers&#39 sixth-round pick in 2016 and reached High-A in 2019. He was dealt from Milwaukee to Miami in the summer of 2021 for John Curtiss. He made his big league debut on Sept. 17.
  
  Scouting Report: For one scintillating turn in big league spring training, Henry looked like the Brewers&#39 catcher of the future. He&#39s largely failed to hit since then, and is now viewed as more of a glove-first backup. He still hit the ball fairly hard in the minor leagues and doesn&#39t strike out an exorbitant amount, but he doesn&#39t get the ball in the air enough to turn his positive traits into assets. He had four passed balls in 511 innings in the minor leagues and caught runners at a 36% clip as well, seemingly giving him the chops needed to stick in the big leagues.
  
  The Future: Scouts are not bullish on Henry&#39s bat, but his defensive prowess gives him a chance to be the kind of glove-first catcher who carves out a career as a backup and hits toward the bottom of a lineup.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Henry was the Brewers’ sixth-round pick in 2016 and reached High-A in 2019. He was dealt from Milwaukee to Miami in the summer of 2021 for John Curtiss. He made his big league debut on Sept. 17.
  
  Scouting Report: For one scintillating turn in big league spring training, Henry looked like the Brewers’ catcher of the future. He’s largely failed to hit since then, and is now viewed as more of a glove-first backup. He still hit the ball fairly hard in the minor leagues and doesn’t strike out an exorbitant amount, but he doesn’t get the ball in the air enough to turn his positive traits into assets. He had four passed balls in 511 innings in the minor leagues and caught runners at a 36% clip as well, seemingly giving him the chops needed to stick in the big leagues.
  
  The Future: Scouts are not bullish on Henry’s bat, but his defensive prowess gives him a chance to be the kind of glove-first catcher who carves out a career as a backup and hits toward the bottom of a lineup.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Henry, acquired from the Brewers in the trade that sent RHP John Curtiss to Milwaukee, is a potential backup catcher whose defense and ability to work well with pitchers gives him a shot at an MLB role. He has some raw power, but that power has rarely made it into games.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Brewers like both the tangibles and intangibles of Henry, which is why they invited him to their spring camp in 2019 after three seasons as a pro, without being on the 40-man roster. They wanted him to benefit from being around the big league catchers and continue to soak up knowledge while getting to watch how they go about their daily work. Henry then went out and put together a solid if not sensational season at high Class A Carolina while sharing time with another top catching prospect, Mario Feliciano.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: He has the physical strength to generate power at the plate as well as handle the rigorous duties of a catcher over a full season. As with many power hitters, Henry has some significant swing-and-miss to his offensive game and must work to improve a lopsided strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2019 (142 to 26). As he matures and learns not to chase so many pitches off the plate, his OBP should tick upward. Behind the plate, Henry has a strong arm that discourages opponents from taking liberties on the base paths. He has a quick release that helps with pop times and club officials love the way he works behind the plate, shows energy and takes charge of games.
  
  THE FUTURE: No one will outwork him, and he certainly has the tools and work ethic to become an everyday, power-hitting catcher in the majors. He was scratched from an Arizona Fall League assignment because of an MCL sprain in his left knee but recovered fully from that injury.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Brewers like both the tangibles and intangibles of Henry, which is why they invited him to their spring camp in 2019 after three seasons as a pro, without being on the 40-man roster. They wanted him to benefit from being around the big league catchers and continue to soak up knowledge while getting to watch how they go about their daily work. Henry then went out and put together a solid if not sensational season at high Class A Carolina while sharing time with another top catching prospect, Mario Feliciano.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: He has the physical strength to generate power at the plate as well as handle the rigorous duties of a catcher over a full season. As with many power hitters, Henry has some significant swing-and-miss to his offensive game and must work to improve a lopsided strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2019 (142 to 26). As he matures and learns not to chase so many pitches off the plate, his OBP should tick upward. Behind the plate, Henry has a strong arm that discourages opponents from taking liberties on the base paths. He has a quick release that helps with pop times and club officials love the way he works behind the plate, shows energy and takes charge of games.
  
  THE FUTURE: No one will outwork him, and he certainly has the tools and work ethic to become an everyday, power-hitting catcher in the majors. He was scratched from an Arizona Fall League assignment because of an MCL sprain in his left knee but recovered fully from that injury.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Part of a two-prospect catching duo with Carolina, Henry impressed with his framing ability, leadership and power. He tied for fourth in the league in home runs and was third in RBIs. After being invited to major league camp a year ahead of 40-man roster eligibility, Henry spent the whole season with the Mudcats. Scouts like his strength and toughness. Henry has a plus arm and a stellar 1.89 pop time. He’s older than fellow Mudcats catcher Mario Feliciano and may take more time to develop, but he has already caught the eye of Brewers manager Craig Counsell.