Bats: Left, Throws: Right
2011 Stats (AA - Akron): .256, 33 RBI, 33 SB, .633 OPS, 1.09 K/BB
Yeah, Jordan Henry does not hit for a lot of power. In fact, he has compiled 1363 professional PAs without jacking a single long ball. Over that same span, he's rapped just 31 doubles and 6 triples. No, Jordan Henry does not really tear the cover off of the ball. What he does do, and with surprising regularity prior to 2011, is get on base and set the table for the hitters behind him. More precisely, in 183 career games, Henry hit .317, scored 125 runs and stole 51 bases. That includes a half season at Akron in 2010, during which Jordan went right ahead and hit an even .300. Now, he won't put butts in the seats and he likely won't find too many gaps, but, if Scott Podsednik can have a 10+ year MLB career then so can Henry. What is simply unacceptable in the .280 slugging percentage that he posted last season. If Jordan is going to be Jordan and do it in a way that can help a big league team, that .280 needs to be his batting average. Now, if he can produce at that level then the path to the lake front is fairly clear for this true leadoff hitter. If you accept, as I do, that, even if he can regain his health, Grady Sizemore will never again be a reasonable #1 guy, then only Ezequiel Carrera stand between Henry and the bigs. While Zeke does have a bit more power, that is not the true concern. First off, Henry is freaky fast, having been timed at 6.5 seconds in a 60 yard dash. More importantly, and in stark contrast to Carrera, Jordan has tremendous bat control and is quite selective at the plate. The result is an excellent bunter. Henry is clearly proficient at what he does. If his numbers return to form, he will be an MLB option by the second half of 2012.
Up Next: #23 - RHP Bryce Stowell
