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TopProspectAlert.com Minor League News & Autograph Blog HomeTop Prospect Alert - Drew Henson (2002) By Schuyler DombroskeDOB: 2/13/80, Age: 22, Height: 6’5’’, Weight:
222, Bats: R, Throws: R. Acquired: Yankees - Drafted in the 3rd Round of
the 1998 Draft (Brighton HS, MI). 2001 Stats: (High-A - Tampa) .143 AVG,
21 AB, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 SB, 2 BB, 7 K, .174 OBP, .238 SLG; (AA -
Norwich) .368 AVG, 19 AB, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 SB, 1 BB, 4 K, .400 OBP,
.400 SLG; (AAA - Columbus) .222 AVG, 270 AB, 6 2B, 0 3B, 11 HR, 2 SB, 10
BB, 85 K, .250 OBP, .367 SLG. 2002 Stats: (AAA - Columbus) .240 AVG, 471
AB, 30 2B, 4 3B, 18 HR, 2 SB, 37 BB, 151 K, .301 OBP, .435
SLG.
Drew Henson, as far as
many analysts are concerned, has “BUST” tattooed on his forehead right
now. The former Michigan QB was one of the most discussed minor leaguers a
few years ago when he all but forced the Reds to trade him back to the
Yankees, and he still gets his fair share of press. The only problem is
that the press is becoming almost unilaterally negative, due to the .234
BA and 236 whiffs in his 741 ABs at Columbus the last two seasons. Even
during his struggles, Henson has shown the power that tantalizes everyone
that watches him. He still hits 500-foot HRs often enough to make people
salivate over the prospects of 600 ABs from him after he “develops”. His
52 extra-base hits tied him for eighth in the IL last year, which is quite
solid for a year in which he was considered a disappointment. The rest of
his game, however, needs a great deal of work. He still has enormous holes
in his swing, which barely even merits mention after looking at those
strikeout totals. His speed is just about average on the basepaths, which
is a lot better than his batting eye, which is the weakest part of his
game by far. He literally has no game plan in the batters’ box, just
hoping to get a mistake that he can hit a long way. Defensively, Henson
has the tools to be above average, but he still lacks consistency. He has
a cannon for an arm, and fairly soft hands and good range for a player
with his build, but he still makes bad decisions and boots easy plays,
frequently sandwiching a great play with two horrible ones. Overall,
Henson still looks like the player that came out of the 1998 draft: raw,
but promising. That cannot be a good thing to say about a player with 1381
minor league at bats.
To me, Drew Henson is a
bit enigmatic. On the one hand, you have a number of reasonable baseball
people that say that Drew Henson has a chance to be a superstar with a few
more reps (Tommy John still seems convinced that he is only a year or two
away form being a solid big leaguer), and you have his obvious power
potential. On the other hand, you have his inability to progress at all in
over two full seasons and the obvious, glaring holes in his game. The
Yankees appear to have seriously considered alternative plans in recent
months, with talk of Edgardo Alfonso littering the airwaves, but their
long-term commitment to Henson has seemingly endured to this point.
Perhaps Robin Ventura will be brought back for another season, and the
Yanks will hope that 2003 will finally be the year that Drew Henson makes
the strides that have been expected for years. I have become skeptical
after watching him a few times this season, and put his odds at becoming a
successful starting 3B in NY at 20%. That 20%, which represents his
optimal development, would result in a Troy Glaus-type player, whose
arrival would likely be in 2004. More likely, the Yankees are looking at
the second coming of Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens, who alternated a homer for
every nine strikeouts or so, just like Henson. In fact, Chad Hutchinson’s
recent signing by the Cowboys illustrates, in my mind, the likely career
path of Drew Henson, with an NFL arrival in, say, 2005. The Raiders might
need a new QB at that point….from maize and blue to black and silver? It
is more likely than pinstripes, if you ask me.
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