Sean Henn
| IP | 83 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 7.482 |
| WHIP | 2.036 |
| BB/9 | 7.265 |
| SO/9 | 6.831 |
- Full name Sean Michael Henn
- Born 04/23/1981 in Fort Worth, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: L
- School Mclennan CC
- Debut 05/04/2005
- Drafted in the 26th round (788th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2000 (signed for $1,701,000).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Yankees finally got a return on their $1.701 million investment in Henn--a record at the time for a draft-and-follow signee--when he made his big league debut in 2005. It didn't go as they hoped, as his control deserted him and he gave up 16 runs in three starts. In the minors, though, he had his best season before a mid-August bout with stiffness in his left forearm ended his season. As a power lefthander, Henn has enough stuff to get by with just enough control, and when he's at his best he's effectively wild. He has enough life on his 90-93 mph fastball to pitch up in the strike zone, and then he can bury his hard slider down in the zone. When he stays on top of the pitch, it's an above-average breaking ball. He was less consistent with his slider in Triple-A and compounded his difficulties when he tried to be too fine. Henn just needs to trust his stuff and attack hitters. He still lacks a real feel for a changeup, and the total package profiles him better as a reliever. The Yankees have resisted making that move yet. He's expected to rejoin the Triple-A rotation in 2006, and his name continues to come up in trade talks. -
Henn has struggled to live up to the hype he garnered when New York signed him in 2001 for $1.701 million, then a record for a draft-and-follow. He consistently threw in the upper 90s in junior college, but he has settled into the 91-93 mph range as a pro since recovering from Tommy John surgery, which hit after just 42 professional innings and cost him the 2002 season. Henn led Yankees minor leaguers in innings last year, proving his durability, and he looked good in a fall minicamp, hitting 96 mph in shorter outings and showing a sharper power slider. Despite its power, the slider is just an average pitch at this point because he lacks feel for it. That and his relatively straight heater account for a power lefty missing so few bats. Henn also lacks a decent changeup, which hurts him against righthanders. The Yankees need lefthanded relief help, so they'll probably move Henn to the bullpen in spring training before sending him to Double-A or Triple-A. -
Signed to what was then a draft-and-follow record bonus of $1.701 million in 2001, Henn lasted just 42 innings before requiring Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2002 season and returned last year with lackluster results. His upper-90s velocity was the reason he got big money, but his velocity hasn't returned yet and he has been tagged as a one-pitch pitcher. The Yankees want him to raise his arm slot from a low three-quarters release to a traditional three-quarter slot. He primarily throws four-seam fastballs but wasn't able to overpower anyone at 91-92 mph. Henn's slider is better now than when he signed, but it's still inconsistent and not a reliable offering. His command and changeup are shaky. The Yankees were discouraged with Henn's work habits coming back from surgery. While some pitchers can race back, Henn's timetable will be slower. He will be more than two years post-op by spring training and should start to see his velocity increase. The development of his breaking ball likely won't be enough to save him from the bullpen, though. -
The Yankees drafted Henn twice, but it wasn't until his velocity jumped two grades that they signed him to a $1.701 million bonus, a record for a draft-and-follow. Henn went down with a sore elbow nine games into his pro debut and needed Tommy John surgery that wiped out his entire 2002 season. Henn threw 86-89 mph as a junior-college freshman, and didn't show the breaking ball or maturity to handle the daily grind of pro ball. He blossomed by his sophomore season and was touching 99 mph in the months leading up to the draft. His arm action is clean, and his changeup is an effective secondary pitch. Rehab allowed Henn to focus on refining his delivery. He worked out in Tampa with pitching coordinators Billy Connors and Steve Webber, focusing on his stride and release point. His breaking ball was a work in progress before the injury. Henn threw simulated batting-practice sessions in Tampa during the fall. His rehab has been encouraging and the Yankees expect him to be ready by spring training, 18 months after his surgery. -
The Yankees took a significant chunk out of their draft budget by signing Henn to a draft-and-follow record $1.7 million bonus a week before the 2001 draft. They had coveted him since drafting him out of high school in 1999's 30th round. But his pro debut came to a halt when elbow pain led to Tommy John surgery. Once word spread of Henn's explosive velocity, it was clear the Yankees were going to have to give him first-round money. He touched 98-99 mph and dialed it up to 95-97 after signing. He sits at 91-95 mph and maintains quick arm action on his changeup, which should become a plus pitch. Henn has imposing size and works on a tough downward plane. He has made progress with his breaking ball. Henn needs to improve his location. He tends to break his hands too late in his delivery, causing his fastball to stay up. His four-seamer lacks movement and he's learning to work it to both sides of the plate. The surgery will set Henn back a year, and the rehabilitation will require a lot of dedication. The Yankees say he'll return to full strength, and not many lefthanders can match his power arsenal.
Minor League Top Prospects
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A week before the 2000 draft, the Yankees signed Henn for $1.7 million, the richest draft-and-follow deal in history. Yankees vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman watched Henn touch 98 mph for McLennan (Texas) Community College and wasn't about to let the powerful lefty re-enter the draft. Just 42 innings into his pro career, however, Henn was shut down with elbow problems that subsequently led to Tommy John surgery. Even in his abbreviated debut, he was able to showcase dominant potential. He's expected to make a full recovery. "He has a good idea of what he is doing," Mahoning Valley manager Dave Turgeon said. "He throws an effortless 94. He can spin the ball very well, too. He has a bright future." When he returns Henn will have to focus on ironing out his mechanics and controlling his delivery. "He's just a raw kid," Batavia manager Frank Klebe said. "He just lets it fly. When he learns command of it, he's going to be tough to hit."
