| AB | 630 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .281 |
| OBP | .364 |
| SLG | .529 |
| HR | 37 |
- Full name Gunnar Randal Henderson
- Born 06/29/2001 in Montgomery, AL
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Morgan
- Debut 08/31/2022
-
Drafted in the 2nd round (42nd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 (signed for $2,300,000).
View Draft Report
The top prospect in Alabama, Henderson is a physical, 6-foot-3, 194-pound shortstop with high upside both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Henderson has the potential for an average hit tool with current above-average power that could turn into plus power down the line. His body has improved this spring, as he’s grown into his 6-foot-3 frame with even more room to continue to add strength. Defensively, teams are still mixed in regards to Henderson’s future. For a rangier kid without elite quickness, some scouts believe Henderson will need to move to third base, where he has plus defensive potential with solid hands and 60-grade arm strength. Others, however, have seen him handle shortstop well and believe he has enough athleticism to remain there, where he could be an average defender. To meet those aspirations, Henderson will need to shorten up some of his actions in the infield—he can get long with his throwing motion at times—and also improve his footwork and ability to throw from multiple angles. He has allowed the game to speed up on him at times, but he should at least get a chance at shortstop at the next level before moving to third base. He has enough hitting ability and power to profile well at either position. An Auburn commit, Henderson could go off the draft board at some point on Day 1.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
BA Grade/Risk: 70/Medium
Track Record: When the pandemic shut down minor league baseball in 2020, the Orioles worried high school hitters like Henderson--whom they signed for an over-slot $2.3 million as the 42nd overall pick in 2019--would be most impacted by the loss of development time. Instead, Henderson flourished. Two years after being the youngest player at Baltimore's alternate training site and exposed to the challenging and, at times, overwhelming Orioles hitting practices, Henderson forced his MLB debut at 21 years old. The Orioles wouldn't have thought Henderson would be in the majors by September when they didn't invite him to big league camp in 2022, but he walked more than he struck out (41 to 38) with a 1.025 OPS in two months at Double-A Bowie before continuing to produce at Triple-A Norfolk, becoming the top prospect in baseball and earning Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year honors.
Scouting Report: The talent to put together such a season has always been within Henderson. His offseason work meant it came faster than the team expected. He added a little rhythm to his swing to get himself moving early, flattened out his bat path to be able to combat riding fastballs up in the zone, and most importantly improved his plate discipline in his return to Double-A Bowie in 2022. He showed immediate gains with swing decisions and contact rates. Henderson's swing has always been a powerful one, and him growing into his body made it more so. His strength and explosiveness allow him to get away with having a smaller move--where he doesn't need to generate much momentum to produce all-fields power--and his approach allows him to stay up the middle consistently. Henderson was exposed to plenty of outer-half spin in 2022 as pitchers tried to avoid the heart of the plate against him. That gave him plenty of looks at one of the few areas where he's continuing to search for solutions. Otherwise, his plus hit tool and plus-plus power showed up in the majors. Henderson had a 92.4 mph average exit velocity and a 53.7% hard-hit rate. Defensively, Henderson hasn't outgrown shortstop and has the potential to be at least above-average there with elite capabilities at third base thanks to his plus-plus arm and range. He's a plus runner as well and impressed the big league staff with his speed on his callup late in the season. Henderson is an intensely driven player who embodies the growth mindset the Orioles seek in their players.
The Future: Henderson reaching the majors this quickly and succeeding in the manner he has puts his career on a steep upward trajectory. The Orioles believe he can be an MVP-caliber player, but at worst he can be a regular all-star who will be a cornerstone in the ongoing Orioles turnaround.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 70 -
Track Record: Signed for an above-slot $2.3 million to keep him away from an Auburn commitment, Henderson has grown to be a darling of Orioles staff and scouts alike as a precociously talented hitter and relentless competitor. He quickly learned what it would take to face older pitchers at the alternate training site and used what he learned there to move quickly in 2021. Henderson was the Low-A East player of the month in May to begin 2021 and eventually was promoted twice, finishing at Double-A Bowie.
Scouting Report: Henderson has all the makings of a modern-day, bat-first shortstop and took strides toward that in 2021 as he embraced the challenges of playing above his level for most of the year. He’s a potentially average hitter with plus power who has improved along with his competition, and while he struck out more often as he climbed the minors, his swing decisions and contact rates were better in High-A than Low-A. Henderson has a quiet setup but quick hands that allow him to get his barrel into the zone quickly and keep it there, and as he continues to connect his upper and lower body in his load, he’ll tap into more pull power. While there’s a risk he can outgrow shortstop for third base, Henderson is athletic for his size with a plus arm and above-average speed. His intelligent aggression on the bases shows how locked-in he is on a daily basis.
The Future: The Orioles haven’t drafted and developed an all-star shortstop since Manny Machado, but Henderson has the talent to be the next one. He’ll be back at Double-A Bowie to start 2022, with an MLB role in 2023 in play.
-
Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
Track Record: The Orioles selected Henderson with the first pick of the second round in 2019 and signed him away from an Auburn commitment with an above-slot $2.3 million bonus. He got used to pro ball in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, and the Orioles added him to their alternate training site in the second week of August. As the youngest player there, Henderson struggled early before making strides against older competition.
Scouting Report: The Orioles quickly identified Henderson’s lower half was lagging behind his top half, and the resulting adjustments allowed him to cover the plate better and have quality at-bats against advanced pitchers. Henderson’s speed and bat control give him the potential to be an above-average hitter, and his adjustments may allow him to tap into his plus raw power during games more consistently. Despite a bigger frame and just average speed, Henderson has the athleticism to stick at shortstop with at least an above-average arm and advanced instincts. He has a solid fallback option at third base, where his bat would play just fine.
The Future: Henderson’s camp time made the Orioles more bullish about his upside as an everyday shortstop who can hit for power. He’ll still likely start at low Class A in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Alabama's reigning Mr. Baseball also averaged a double-double on the basketball court as a senior. The Orioles made him the first pick of the second round and signed him away from an Auburn commitment for $2.3 million. Henderson debuted slowly in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League while adjusting to professional velocity on a daily basis, but he settled in to the Orioles' liking in August.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Orioles have taken three prep shortstops on the first day of the draft in the last five years—Ryan Mountcastle, Adam Hall and Henderson—and it's the prolific offensive profile of Mountcastle that Henderson most closely resembles, albeit from the left side of the plate. Henderson has the bat speed and swing control to be an above-average hitter, and the Orioles saw plus raw power during his senior spring they believe he can eventually tap into. Henderson has a plus arm and the defensive actions to stay on the left side of the infield. If he outgrows shortstop with his projectable frame, he has the range, quickness and hands for third base.
THE FUTURE: Henderson's offensive abilities alone give him a chance to become an above-average everyday player. He is set to begin 2020 at low Class A Delmarva.
Draft Prospects
-
The top prospect in Alabama, Henderson is a physical, 6-foot-3, 194-pound shortstop with high upside both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Henderson has the potential for an average hit tool with current above-average power that could turn into plus power down the line. His body has improved this spring, as he's grown into his 6-foot-3 frame with even more room to continue to add strength. Defensively, teams are still mixed in regards to Henderson's future. For a rangier kid without elite quickness, some scouts believe Henderson will need to move to third base, where he has plus defensive potential with solid hands and 60-grade arm strength. Others, however, have seen him handle shortstop well and believe he has enough athleticism to remain there, where he could be an average defender. To meet those aspirations, Henderson will need to shorten up some of his actions in the infield--he can get long with his throwing motion at times--and also improve his footwork and ability to throw from multiple angles. He has allowed the game to speed up on him at times, but he should at least get a chance at shortstop at the next level before moving to third base. He has enough hitting ability and power to profile well at either position. An Auburn commit, Henderson could go off the draft board at some point on Day 1.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
Henderson, the No. 1 prospect in Low-A East, had a bumpy transition to High-A after dominating the lower level. He collected only one hit in his first 31 at-bats, but he impressed league managers all the same. The 20-year-old shortstop has stood out for his plus raw power, defensive ability, reactions and arm strength, with managers highlighting his play at shortstop specifically. One manager pointed out Henderson’s growth in maturity at the plate over a one-month period, something the Orioles organization also noticed. They promoted Henderson to Double-A on Sept. 13 while he was riding an eight-game hitting streak. Henderson has quick hands and good bat control, and he learned how to stay within his strengths as he got more accustomed to High-A pitching. -
Henderson was only in the Low-A East for a month and a half, but he drew plenty of notice during his time there, standing out for his bat control, bat speed and plus power with the ability to hit the ball out of the park to all fields. Henderson stood out defensively as well, both at shortstop and third base, with advanced instincts and plus arm strength. League managers were confident that he can stick at shortstop, even with his larger frame. He needs to cut down on his swing and miss after striking out 29.3% of the time, but he showed a better approach at the plate after spending the 2020 season against advanced competition at the alternate training site. “He was probably the best player in our division for a while,” Fredericksburg manager Mario Lisson said. “He can swing it. He can play short and third base. The bat I liked a lot.” -
After drafting Adley Rutschman with the No. 1 overall pick this year, the Orioles used their next selection (No. 43 overall) to add Henderson, who signed for $2.3 million. Henderson is a physical, athletic shortstop with above-average raw power and the strength projection for that to increase. He’s a solid hitter as well, showing a solid balance of hitting ability and power, though the power didn’t show up as much in his pro debut. Henderson made some nice defensive plays in his pro debut, with a plus arm and steady hands. How he develops physically might dictate whether he stays at shortstop or slides over to third base. He needs to improve his footwork and his throwing stroke can get long, but he’s athletic enough to get a chance to stick at shortstop.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
-
BA Grade/Risk: 70/Medium
Track Record: When the pandemic shut down minor league baseball in 2020, the Orioles worried high school hitters like Henderson--whom they signed for an over-slot $2.3 million as the 42nd overall pick in 2019--would be most impacted by the loss of development time. Instead, Henderson flourished. Two years after being the youngest player at Baltimore's alternate training site and exposed to the challenging and, at times, overwhelming Orioles hitting practices, Henderson forced his MLB debut at 21 years old. The Orioles wouldn't have thought Henderson would be in the majors by September when they didn't invite him to big league camp in 2022, but he walked more than he struck out (41 to 38) with a 1.025 OPS in two months at Double-A Bowie before continuing to produce at Triple-A Norfolk, becoming the top prospect in baseball and earning Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year honors.
Scouting Report: The talent to put together such a season has always been within Henderson. His offseason work meant it came faster than the team expected. He added a little rhythm to his swing to get himself moving early, flattened out his bat path to be able to combat riding fastballs up in the zone, and most importantly improved his plate discipline in his return to Double-A Bowie in 2022. He showed immediate gains with swing decisions and contact rates. Henderson's swing has always been a powerful one, and him growing into his body made it more so. His strength and explosiveness allow him to get away with having a smaller move--where he doesn't need to generate much momentum to produce all-fields power--and his approach allows him to stay up the middle consistently. Henderson was exposed to plenty of outer-half spin in 2022 as pitchers tried to avoid the heart of the plate against him. That gave him plenty of looks at one of the few areas where he's continuing to search for solutions. Otherwise, his plus hit tool and plus-plus power showed up in the majors. Henderson had a 92.4 mph average exit velocity and a 53.7% hard-hit rate. Defensively, Henderson hasn't outgrown shortstop and has the potential to be at least above-average there with elite capabilities at third base thanks to his plus-plus arm and range. He's a plus runner as well and impressed the big league staff with his speed on his callup late in the season. Henderson is an intensely driven player who embodies the growth mindset the Orioles seek in their players.
The Future: Henderson reaching the majors this quickly and succeeding in the manner he has puts his career on a steep upward trajectory. The Orioles believe he can be an MVP-caliber player, but at worst he can be a regular all-star who will be a cornerstone in the ongoing Orioles turnaround.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 70 -
BA Grade/Risk: 70/Medium
Track Record: When the pandemic shut down minor league baseball in 2020, the Orioles worried high school hitters like Henderson--whom they signed for an over-slot $2.3 million as the 42nd overall pick in 2019--would be most impacted by the loss of development time. Instead, Henderson flourished. Two years after being the youngest player at Baltimore's alternate training site and exposed to the challenging and, at times, overwhelming Orioles hitting practices, Henderson forced his MLB debut at 21 years old. The Orioles wouldn't have thought Henderson would be in the majors by September when they didn't invite him to big league camp in 2022, but he walked more than he struck out (41 to 38) with a 1.025 OPS in two months at Double-A Bowie before continuing to produce at Triple-A Norfolk, becoming the top prospect in baseball and earning Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year honors.
Scouting Report: The talent to put together such a season has always been within Henderson. His offseason work meant it came faster than the team expected. He added a little rhythm to his swing to get himself moving early, flattened out his bat path to be able to combat riding fastballs up in the zone, and most importantly improved his plate discipline in his return to Double-A Bowie in 2022. He showed immediate gains with swing decisions and contact rates. Henderson's swing has always been a powerful one, and him growing into his body made it more so. His strength and explosiveness allow him to get away with having a smaller move--where he doesn't need to generate much momentum to produce all-fields power--and his approach allows him to stay up the middle consistently. Henderson was exposed to plenty of outer-half spin in 2022 as pitchers tried to avoid the heart of the plate against him. That gave him plenty of looks at one of the few areas where he's continuing to search for solutions. Otherwise, his plus hit tool and plus-plus power showed up in the majors. Henderson had a 92.4 mph average exit velocity and a 53.7% hard-hit rate. Defensively, Henderson hasn't outgrown shortstop and has the potential to be at least above-average there with elite capabilities at third base thanks to his plus-plus arm and range. He's a plus runner as well and impressed the big league staff with his speed on his callup late in the season. Henderson is an intensely driven player who embodies the growth mindset the Orioles seek in their players.
The Future: Henderson reaching the majors this quickly and succeeding in the manner he has puts his career on a steep upward trajectory. The Orioles believe he can be an MVP-caliber player, but at worst he can be a regular all-star who will be a cornerstone in the ongoing Orioles turnaround.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 70 -
BA Grade: 65/ Medium
Track Record: Signed for an above-slot $2.3 million to keep him away from an Auburn commitment, Henderson has grown to be a darling of Orioles staff and scouts alike as a precociously talented hitter and relentless competitor. He quickly learned what it would take to face older pitchers at the alternate training site and used what he learned there to move quickly in. Henderson was the Low-A East player of the month in May to begin 2021 and eventually was promoted twice, finishing at Double-A Bowie.
Scouting Report: Henderson has all the makings of a modern-day, bat-first shortstop and took strides toward that in 2021 as he embraced the challenges of playing above his level for most of the year. He's a potentially average hitter with plus power who has improved along with his competition, and while he struck out more often as he climbed the minors, his swing decisions and contact rates were better in High-A than Low-A. Henderson has a quiet setup but quick hands that allow him to get his barrel into the zone quickly and keep it there, and as he continues to connect his upper and lower body in his load, he'll tap into more pull power. While there's a risk he can outgrow shortstop for third base, Henderson is athletic for his size with a plus arm and above-average speed. His intelligent aggression on the bases shows how locked-in he is on a daily basis.
The Future: The Orioles haven't drafted and developed an all-star shortstop since Manny Machado, but Henderson has the talent to be the next one. He'll be back at Double-A Bowie to start 2022, with an MLB role in 2023 in play.
Scouting Grades
Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60. -
Track Record: Signed for an above-slot $2.3 million to keep him away from an Auburn commitment, Henderson has grown to be a darling of Orioles staff and scouts alike as a precociously talented hitter and relentless competitor. He quickly learned what it would take to face older pitchers at the alternate training site and used what he learned there to move quickly in 2021. Henderson was the Low-A East player of the month in May to begin 2021 and eventually was promoted twice, finishing at Double-A Bowie.
Scouting Report: Henderson has all the makings of a modern-day, bat-first shortstop and took strides toward that in 2021 as he embraced the challenges of playing above his level for most of the year. He’s a potentially average hitter with plus power who has improved along with his competition, and while he struck out more often as he climbed the minors, his swing decisions and contact rates were better in High-A than Low-A. Henderson has a quiet setup but quick hands that allow him to get his barrel into the zone quickly and keep it there, and as he continues to connect his upper and lower body in his load, he’ll tap into more pull power. While there’s a risk he can outgrow shortstop for third base, Henderson is athletic for his size with a plus arm and above-average speed. His intelligent aggression on the bases shows how locked-in he is on a daily basis.
The Future: The Orioles haven’t drafted and developed an all-star shortstop since Manny Machado, but Henderson has the talent to be the next one. He’ll be back at Double-A Bowie to start 2022, with an MLB role in 2023 in play.
-
Henderson was only in the Low-A East for a month and a half, but he drew plenty of notice during his time there, standing out for his bat control, bat speed and plus power with the ability to hit the ball out of the park to all fields. Henderson stood out defensively as well, both at shortstop and third base, with advanced instincts and plus arm strength. League managers were confident that he can stick at shortstop, even with his larger frame. He needs to cut down on his swing and miss after striking out 29.3% of the time, but he showed a better approach at the plate after spending the 2020 season against advanced competition at the alternate training site. “He was probably the best player in our division for a while,” Fredericksburg manager Mario Lisson said. “He can swing it. He can play short and third base. The bat I liked a lot.” -
Henderson, the No. 1 prospect in Low-A East, had a bumpy transition to High-A after dominating the lower level. He collected only one hit in his first 31 at-bats, but he impressed league managers all the same. The 20-year-old shortstop has stood out for his plus raw power, defensive ability, reactions and arm strength, with managers highlighting his play at shortstop specifically. One manager pointed out Henderson’s growth in maturity at the plate over a one-month period, something the Orioles organization also noticed. They promoted Henderson to Double-A on Sept. 13 while he was riding an eight-game hitting streak. Henderson has quick hands and good bat control, and he learned how to stay within his strengths as he got more accustomed to High-A pitching. -
Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
Track Record: The Orioles selected Henderson with the first pick of the second round in 2019 and signed him away from an Auburn commitment with an above-slot $2.3 million bonus. He got used to pro ball in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, and the Orioles added him to their alternate training site in the second week of August. As the youngest player there, Henderson struggled early before making strides against older competition.
Scouting Report: The Orioles quickly identified Henderson's lower half was lagging behind his top half, and the resulting adjustments allowed him to cover the plate better and have quality at-bats against advanced pitchers. Henderson's speed and bat control give him the potential to be an above-average hitter, and his adjustments may allow him to tap into his plus raw power during games more consistently. Despite a bigger frame and just average speed, Henderson has the athleticism to stick at shortstop with at least an above-average arm and advanced instincts. He has a solid fallback option at third base, where his bat would play just fine.
The Future: Henderson's camp time made the Orioles more bullish about his upside as an everyday shortstop who can hit for power. He'll still likely start at low Class A in 2021. -
Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
Track Record: The Orioles selected Henderson with the first pick of the second round in 2019 and signed him away from an Auburn commitment with an above-slot $2.3 million bonus. He got used to pro ball in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, and the Orioles added him to their alternate training site in the second week of August. As the youngest player there, Henderson struggled early before making strides against older competition.
Scouting Report: The Orioles quickly identified Henderson’s lower half was lagging behind his top half, and the resulting adjustments allowed him to cover the plate better and have quality at-bats against advanced pitchers. Henderson’s speed and bat control give him the potential to be an above-average hitter, and his adjustments may allow him to tap into his plus raw power during games more consistently. Despite a bigger frame and just average speed, Henderson has the athleticism to stick at shortstop with at least an above-average arm and advanced instincts. He has a solid fallback option at third base, where his bat would play just fine.
The Future: Henderson’s camp time made the Orioles more bullish about his upside as an everyday shortstop who can hit for power. He’ll still likely start at low Class A in 2021. -
Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
Track Record: The Orioles selected Henderson with the first pick of the second round in 2019 and signed him away from an Auburn commitment with an above-slot $2.3 million bonus. He got used to pro ball in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, and the Orioles added him to their alternate training site in the second week of August. As the youngest player there, Henderson struggled early before making strides against older competition.
Scouting Report: The Orioles quickly identified Henderson’s lower half was lagging behind his top half, and the resulting adjustments allowed him to cover the plate better and have quality at-bats against advanced pitchers. Henderson’s speed and bat control give him the potential to be an above-average hitter, and his adjustments may allow him to tap into his plus raw power during games more consistently. Despite a bigger frame and just average speed, Henderson has the athleticism to stick at shortstop with at least an above-average arm and advanced instincts. He has a solid fallback option at third base, where his bat would play just fine.
The Future: Henderson’s camp time made the Orioles more bullish about his upside as an everyday shortstop who can hit for power. He’ll still likely start at low Class A in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Alabama’s reigning Mr. Baseball also averaged a doubledouble on the basketball court as a senior. The Orioles made him the first pick of the second round and signed him away from an Auburn commitment for $2.3 million. Henderson debuted slowly in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League while adjusting to professional velocity on a daily basis, but he settled in to the Orioles’ liking in August.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Orioles have taken three prep shortstops on the first day of the draft in the last five years—Ryan Mountcastle, Adam Hall and Henderson—and it’s the prolific offensive profile of Mountcastle that Henderson most closely resembles, albeit from the left side of the plate. Henderson has the bat speed and swing control to be an above-average hitter, and the Orioles saw plus raw power during his senior spring they believe he can eventually tap into. Henderson has a plus arm and the defensive actions to stay on the left side of the infield. If he outgrows shortstop with his projectable frame, he has the range, quickness and hands for third base.
THE FUTURE: Henderson’s offensive abilities alone give him a chance to become an above-average everyday player. He is set to begin 2020 at low Class A Delmarva. -
TRACK RECORD: Alabama's reigning Mr. Baseball also averaged a double-double on the basketball court as a senior. The Orioles made him the first pick of the second round and signed him away from an Auburn commitment for $2.3 million. Henderson debuted slowly in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League while adjusting to professional velocity on a daily basis, but he settled in to the Orioles' liking in August.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Orioles have taken three prep shortstops on the first day of the draft in the last five years—Ryan Mountcastle, Adam Hall and Henderson—and it's the prolific offensive profile of Mountcastle that Henderson most closely resembles, albeit from the left side of the plate. Henderson has the bat speed and swing control to be an above-average hitter, and the Orioles saw plus raw power during his senior spring they believe he can eventually tap into. Henderson has a plus arm and the defensive actions to stay on the left side of the infield. If he outgrows shortstop with his projectable frame, he has the range, quickness and hands for third base.
THE FUTURE: Henderson's offensive abilities alone give him a chance to become an above-average everyday player. He is set to begin 2020 at low Class A Delmarva. -
After drafting Adley Rutschman with the No. 1 overall pick this year, the Orioles used their next selection (No. 43 overall) to add Henderson, who signed for $2.3 million. Henderson is a physical, athletic shortstop with above-average raw power and the strength projection for that to increase. He’s a solid hitter as well, showing a solid balance of hitting ability and power, though the power didn’t show up as much in his pro debut. Henderson made some nice defensive plays in his pro debut, with a plus arm and steady hands. How he develops physically might dictate whether he stays at shortstop or slides over to third base. He needs to improve his footwork and his throwing stroke can get long, but he’s athletic enough to get a chance to stick at shortstop. -
The top prospect in Alabama, Henderson is a physical, 6-foot-3, 194-pound shortstop with high upside both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Henderson has the potential for an average hit tool with current above-average power that could turn into plus power down the line. His body has improved this spring, as he's grown into his 6-foot-3 frame with even more room to continue to add strength. Defensively, teams are still mixed in regards to Henderson's future. For a rangier kid without elite quickness, some scouts believe Henderson will need to move to third base, where he has plus defensive potential with solid hands and 60-grade arm strength. Others, however, have seen him handle shortstop well and believe he has enough athleticism to remain there, where he could be an average defender. To meet those aspirations, Henderson will need to shorten up some of his actions in the infield--he can get long with his throwing motion at times--and also improve his footwork and ability to throw from multiple angles. He has allowed the game to speed up on him at times, but he should at least get a chance at shortstop at the next level before moving to third base. He has enough hitting ability and power to profile well at either position. An Auburn commit, Henderson could go off the draft board at some point on Day 1.
