- Full name Rob Henkel
- Born
- Profile Throws: L
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Henkel was the key pitcher for Detroit in the January 2003 trade that sent Mark Redman to Florida and also netted Gary Knotts and Nate Robertson. Henkel pitched up to expectations in Double-A, but his season was marred by back spasms that forced him to miss numerous starts, including his scheduled Arizona Fall League stint. Henkel is a legitimate three-pitch lefthander. His fastball consistently touches 90 mph and while it doesn't have a lot of movement, he locates it well. His out pitch is a tight curveball--the best in the system-- that he commands well. His changeup is also effective and he throws it for strikes. He has a high three-quarters delivery that seems difficult for hitters to pick up. Henkel's health is a major question mark. He had Tommy John surgery at UCLA and came down with shoulder problems shortly after he signed in 2000, costing him velocity on what had been a 93- 95 mph heater. Even when he's going good, his teams hold their breath wondering if he's about to break down. Added to the 40-man roster this offseason, Henkel is good enough to pitch in the majors in 2004 if he can stay healthy. He'll start the year in Triple-A. -
Henkel was the key to the trade that sent Mark Redman to Florida in January. Though the other two players Detroit acquired--lefthander Nate Robertson and righthander Gary Knotts--have major league experience and high upsides, they don't have the ceiling that Henkel does. After signing for $650,000 in September 2000, he spent nearly a year fighting a balky shoulder that caused his velocity to drop from 93-95 mph to the low 80s. Having already survived Tommy John surgery, he worked hard to strengthen the shoulder and gradually saw his velocity climb back up to 88-92 mph. He dominated the Florida State League in 2002 and earned a midseason promotion to Double-A. When he's on, Henkel brandishes a late-breaking knuckle-curve that can be close to unhittable. Combined with a deceptive delivery, his hook is hard for hitters to pick up and makes his fastball work that much better. He did a better job of integrating his changeup last season, giving him three solid weapons for the first time. A sociology major, Henkel tends to overanalyze his performance. With his history of arm problems, the Marlins often gave him a few extra days between starts. His delivery is high-maintenance, he still overthrows at times and his changeup needs more work. Florida planned on giving Henkel a look in big league camp as a swingman, but Detroit will evaluate him as a starter. He's more likely to open the year in Triple-A, but with his maturity and advanced knowledge, he probably won't need much more seasoning. -
Henkel turned down $700,000 from the Mets, who took him in the 20th round of the 1999 draft. After signing for $650,000 in September 2000, the former UCLA star spent nearly a year fighting a balky shoulder that caused his velocity to drop to the low 80s. Henkel worked hard to strengthen his shoulder and saw his velocity climb back up to 89-92 mph. He got six weeks in low Class A, then a brief taste of the Arizona Fall League, where he showed a much-improved changeup to go with his signature pitch, a devastating knuckle-curve with late, quick break. Already a survivor of Tommy John surgery, Henkel showed uncommon hunger and a willingness to attack his rehab with vigor. Henkel tends to overanalyze his performance, though that may be a byproduct of his frustration with the long recovery time. He needs innings after missing the past two summers. Henkel will open 2002 in Class A, but his maturity, intelligence, lefthandedness and college time could allow him to move fast. -
Some consider Henkel the most intriguing lefthander in the Marlins organization. The third-round pick signed too late to pitch in 2000 after accepting a $650,000 bonus in September. He attended instructional league but had to back off after experiencing some shoulder fatigue related to an arm-strengthening program. He was limited to fastballs only when he finally got on the mound, but his rise could be rapid once he gets started next year. Henkel came back from Tommy John surgery in March 1998 to shine in the Cape Cod League the following summer. He turned down $700,000 from the Mets, who took him in the 20th round of the 1999 draft on a flier. Henkel then went out and piled up 121 strikeouts in his first 79 innings as a junior. In one three-game stretch he struck out 16, 16 and 18 before a late-season fade cost him a spot in the top half of the first round. Though he already had graduated with a degree in sociology, he had another year of eligibility left and hence some bargaining power. Henkel's fastball is 90-93 mph when he's on, but his strikeout pitch is a vicious knuckle-curve that even the experienced hitters of the Pacific-10 Conference couldn't solve. The Marlins like to imagine Henkel and A.J. Burnett in the same rotation in a few years, each trying to outdo the other's knuckle-curve.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Henkel's knuckle-curve was one of the toughest pitches to hit in the league. He could throw it for strikes or make hitters chase it in the dirt. On the heels of an injury-filled 2001 debut, he proved to be a durable strikeout artist. His fastball sat between 86-92 mph with life. He added a darting two-seamer once he reached Double-A following the all-star break. "His mechanics are like Andy Pettitte's," Pevey said. "His curveball has good rotation and bite. He spots his fastball well to both sides, runs it away from righthanders. The change is a show-me pitch, but the curveball is a strikeout pitch."
