Nationals’ second-round draft pick posted an impressive WHIP of 0.85, named to Arizona Fall League and draws praise from farm director…
WASHINGTON – Ace Max Scherzer was traded, lefty Patrick Corbin struggled, and prospect Cade Cavalli advanced from Single-A to Triple-A.
In addition, reliever Kyle Finnegan was voted the team’s Pitcher of the Year by local media despite several blown saves while journeyman Paolo Espino may have been the most effective starter for the Washington Nationals.
Those are some of the pitchers that Nats fans heard plenty about this past season.
There wasn’t so much said about Cole Henry – but that could change as the team builds for the future.
“Mussina-esque.”
– @MLBNetwork‘s Al Leiter on Cole Henry@Cole__Henry12 // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/RTIONWdu7t
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 11, 2020
Henry, 22, a second-round pick out of LSU in 2020 by the Nationals, fashioned an impressive WHIP of 0.85 with an ERA of 2.30 in 47 innings split between two teams in the minor league system in 2021.
“Cole finished up the year healthy, strong and turned some heads with his improved command of his fastball and action on his curveball,” assistant general manager, player development Mark Scialabba wrote to Federal Baseball this past weekend.
In nine games, eight of them starts, for high Single-A Wilmington, he was 3-3 with an ERA of 1.88 and an impressive WHIP of 0.79, and he made two starts in the Florida Complex League after dealing with an elbow issue, posting a 6.75 ERA over just four innings.
He had 70 strikeouts and just 12 walks overall in those 47 innings this past year.
Cole Henry and his mustache struck out 9 batters in 5 innings last night.
They have a 0.41 ERA and 31 Ks over their last 22 IP.@Cole__Henry12 // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/APWdUswInN
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 18, 2021
Henry is one of the top prospects in the Washington system, according to Baseball America and MiLB.com.
“His changeup continued to show plus late sink and fade tunneling well off his two-seam fastball. He competed well down the stretch and we are excited to see him build off the gains he made late in the season. The Arizona Fall League will be a great opportunity for Cole to gain valuable innings he needs against the top prospects in the game,” Scialabba noted.
Henry was named to the Surprise Saguaros’ roster of the Arizona Fall League earlier this month.