Austin Hendrick Stats & Scouting Report

AB	437
AVG	.188
OBP	.243
SLG	.288
HR	11

Full name Austin Daniel Hendrick
Born 06/15/2001 in Pittsburgh, PA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School West Allegheny
Drafted in the 1st round (12th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2020 (signed for $4,000,000).

View Draft Report

Hendrick impressed scouts with his hitting and power potential over the summer showcase circuit, where he showed the ability to lay off bad pitches at East Coast Pro and at USA Baseball’s PDP League. He put together a three-home run game on June 27 and upped the ante at the 2019 Under Armour High School All-American Game when he hit a ball out of Wrigley Field. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound outfielder has the quickest pure bat speed in the class and complements it with light tower raw power, giving him arguably the best power/hit combo of any high school hitter. Hendrick has extremely quick hands that allow him to get to his 70-grade power, though he’s had to implement some timing mechanisms to keep himself back. Those adjustments have included a quirky toe-tap which has been replaced by a fluid leg kick. Hendrick’s consistency with his bat leaves fewer questions than for other high school hitters, though he does have some swing-and-miss concerns. However, the pitching he regularly faces in Pennsylvania is significantly worse than the better arms in the high school class, and he has the natural tools to make all the adjustments necessary as he moves up the ladder. He showed that ability to adjust last summer in games. Hendrick has proved he can play all three outfield positions in high school, but scouts are split on his defensive routes. Some scouts believe he tracks the ball well, but most agree that his arm strength is near the top of the class. Hendrick is best suited to play in a corner-outfield spot, where his power and above-average arm strength suit him well. A 2020 high school preseason first-team All-American, Hendrick wasn’t seen much this spring, but likely would have had a tough time changing his draft stock much given the competition. Hendrick is older for the high school class and will turn 19 in the middle of June. Still, he should be one of the first prep names selected, and it’s unlikely he makes it to campus at Mississippi State.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: When the Reds picked Hendrick 12th overall in 2020, it was just the third time in draft history that Cincinnati had picked a prep outfielder in the top 15 picks of a draft. The previous two—Jay Bruce and Austin Kearns—both worked out. Hendrick’s pro debut in 2021 didn’t go as planned. A groin strain sidelined him for a month, and when he did play his power production was less than expected while his strikeout rate soared.

Scouting Report: Hendrick’s first full pro season was a rather mixed bag. He struck out in 38% of his plate appearances and his exceptional bat speed did not lead to many home runs. He walked 19% of the time, however, and showed an advanced batting eye. Unlike many Class A hitters with strikeout issues, Hendrick doesn’t really struggle with pitch recognition. His problem is he too often fouls off pitches he should drive. Hendrick’s swing is quite steep. When he does connect it leads to plenty of long fly balls, but the loft in his swing means his barrel is not in the strike zone for very long. If he can fix that, Hendrick has the components to be a very productive hitter. His bat speed, batting eye and power give him the makings of at least an average hitter with plus power if he can fix his issues. His plus arm and fringe-average speed should work in right field, but as with most right fielders, it will depend on him being a very productive hitter.

The Future: Hendrick’s 2021 season was disappointing, but the pieces are still there for him to be a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. He’ll head to High-A Dayton with a healthy to-do list, but his top priority will be to make more quality contact.
Hitting: 55. Power: 60. Running: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Hendrick had a loud summer leading into his senior year and showed off some of the best power in the 2020 draft class. He cleared Wrigley Field’s right field scoreboard during the Under Armour All-America Game home run derby and continued to mash throughout the showcase circuit. The coronavirus pandemic canceled Hendrick’s high school season before it started, but the Reds still drafted him 12th overall and signed him for $4 million to pass up a Mississippi State commitment.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hendrick is a middle-of-the-order slugger in the making. His plus-plus raw power allows him to hit the ball out to all fields, and his exceptional bat speed allows him to turn around any fastball. Hendrick has a bat wrap that adds some length to his swing and leads to swings and misses, but he’s still a potential above-average hitter and shows enough selectivity to draw walks and post solid on-base percentages. Hendrick has plenty of work to do defensively. His fringe-average speed and plus arm fit in right field, but his routes and reads are well below-average.

THE FUTURE: Hendrick fits the profile of an everyday outfielder whose bat carries him to the majors. He’ll make his pro debut in 2021.

Draft Prospects

Hendrick impressed scouts with his hitting and power potential over the summer showcase circuit, where he showed the ability to lay off bad pitches at East Coast Pro and at USA Baseball’s PDP League. He put together a three-home run game on June 27 and upped the ante at the 2019 Under Armour High School All-American Game when he hit a ball out of Wrigley Field. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound outfielder has the quickest bat speed in the class and complements it with light tower raw power, giving him arguably the best power/hit combo of any high school hitter. Hendrick has extremely quick hands that allow him to get to his 70-grade raw power, though he’s had to implement some timing mechanisms to keep himself back. Those adjustments have included a quirky toe-tap which has been replaced by a fluid leg kick. Hendrick’s consistency with his bat leaves fewer questions than for other high school hitters, though he does have some swing-and-miss concerns. The pitching he regularly faces in Pennsylvania is significantly worse than the top pitchers of his age, but he has the natural tools to make the adjustments necessary as he moves up the ladder. Hendrick has played all three outfield positions in high school, but scouts are split on his defensive routes. Some scouts believe he tracks the ball well and most agree his arm strength is near the top of the class. Hendrick is best suited to play in a corner outfield spot, where his power and above-average arm strength fit well. A 2020 high school preseason first-team All-American, Hendrick wasn’t seen much this spring, but likely would have had a tough time changing his draft stock much given the competition. Hendrick is old for the class and will turn 19 in the middle of June. Still, he should be one of the first high school players selected, and it’s unlikely he makes it to campus at Mississippi State.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

Track Record: When the Reds picked Hendrick 12th overall in 2020, it was just the third time in draft history that Cincinnati had picked a prep outfielder in the top 15 picks of a draft. The previous two—Jay Bruce and Austin Kearns—both worked out. Hendrick’s pro debut in 2021 didn’t go as planned. A groin strain sidelined him for a month, and when he did play his power production was less than expected while his strikeout rate soared.

Scouting Report: Hendrick’s first full pro season was a rather mixed bag. He struck out in 38% of his plate appearances and his exceptional bat speed did not lead to many home runs. He walked 19% of the time, however, and showed an advanced batting eye. Unlike many Class A hitters with strikeout issues, Hendrick doesn’t really struggle with pitch recognition. His problem is he too often fouls off pitches he should drive. Hendrick’s swing is quite steep. When he does connect it leads to plenty of long fly balls, but the loft in his swing means his barrel is not in the strike zone for very long. If he can fix that, Hendrick has the components to be a very productive hitter. His bat speed, batting eye and power give him the makings of at least an average hitter with plus power if he can fix his issues. His plus arm and fringe-average speed should work in right field, but as with most right fielders, it will depend on him being a very productive hitter.

The Future: Hendrick’s 2021 season was disappointing, but the pieces are still there for him to be a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. He’ll head to High-A Dayton with a healthy to-do list, but his top priority will be to make more quality contact.
Hitting: 55. Power: 60. Running: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Hendrick had a loud summer leading into his senior year and showed off some of the best power in the 2020 draft class. He cleared Wrigley Field's right field scoreboard during the Under Armour All-America Game home run derby and continued to mash throughout the showcase circuit. The coronavirus pandemic canceled Hendrick's high school season before it started, but the Reds still drafted him 12th overall and signed him for $4 million to pass up a Mississippi State commitment.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hendrick is a middle-of-the-order slugger in the making. His plus-plus raw power allows him to hit the ball out to all fields, and his exceptional bat speed allows him to turn around any fastball. Hendrick has a bat wrap that adds some length to his swing and leads to swings and misses, but he's still a potential above-average hitter and shows enough selectivity to draw walks and post solid on-base percentages. Hendrick has plenty of work to do defensively. His fringe-average speed and plus arm fit in right field, but his routes and reads are well below-average.

THE FUTURE: Hendrick fits the profile of an everyday outfielder whose bat carries him to the majors. He'll make his pro debut in 2021.
Hitting: 55. Power: 60. Running: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Hendrick had a loud summer leading into his senior year and showed off some of the best power in the 2020 draft class. He cleared Wrigley Field’s right field scoreboard during the Under Armour All-America Game home run derby and continued to mash throughout the showcase circuit. The coronavirus pandemic canceled Hendrick’s high school season before it started, but the Reds still drafted him 12th overall and signed him for $4 million to pass up a Mississippi State commitment.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hendrick is a middle-of-the-order slugger in the making. His plus-plus raw power allows him to hit the ball out to all fields, and his exceptional bat speed allows him to turn around any fastball. Hendrick has a bat wrap that adds some length to his swing and leads to swings and misses, but he’s still a potential above-average hitter and shows enough selectivity to draw walks and post solid on-base percentages. Hendrick has plenty of work to do defensively. His fringe-average speed and plus arm fit in right field, but his routes and reads are well below-average.

THE FUTURE: Hendrick fits the profile of an everyday outfielder whose bat carries him to the majors. He’ll make his pro debut in 2021.
Hitting: 55. Power: 60. Running: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Hendrick had a loud summer leading into his senior year and showed off some of the best power in the 2020 draft class. He cleared Wrigley Field’s right field scoreboard during the Under Armour All-America Game home run derby and continued to mash throughout the showcase circuit. The coronavirus pandemic canceled Hendrick’s high school season before it started, but the Reds still drafted him 12th overall and signed him for $4 million to pass up a Mississippi State commitment.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hendrick is a middle-of-the-order slugger in the making. His plus-plus raw power allows him to hit the ball out to all fields, and his exceptional bat speed allows him to turn around any fastball. Hendrick has a bat wrap that adds some length to his swing and leads to swings and misses, but he’s still a potential above-average hitter and shows enough selectivity to draw walks and post solid on-base percentages. Hendrick has plenty of work to do defensively. His fringe-average speed and plus arm fit in right field, but his routes and reads are well below-average.

THE FUTURE: Hendrick fits the profile of an everyday outfielder whose bat carries him to the majors. He’ll make his pro debut in 2021.
Hendrick impressed scouts with his hitting and power potential over the summer showcase circuit, where he showed the ability to lay off bad pitches at East Coast Pro and at USA Baseball’s PDP League. He put together a three-home run game on June 27 and upped the ante at the 2019 Under Armour High School All-American Game when he hit a ball out of Wrigley Field. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound outfielder has the quickest bat speed in the class and complements it with light tower raw power, giving him arguably the best power/hit combo of any high school hitter. Hendrick has extremely quick hands that allow him to get to his 70-grade raw power, though he’s had to implement some timing mechanisms to keep himself back. Those adjustments have included a quirky toe-tap which has been replaced by a fluid leg kick. Hendrick’s consistency with his bat leaves fewer questions than for other high school hitters, though he does have some swing-and-miss concerns. The pitching he regularly faces in Pennsylvania is significantly worse than the top pitchers of his age, but he has the natural tools to make the adjustments necessary as he moves up the ladder. Hendrick has played all three outfield positions in high school, but scouts are split on his defensive routes. Some scouts believe he tracks the ball well and most agree his arm strength is near the top of the class. Hendrick is best suited to play in a corner outfield spot, where his power and above-average arm strength fit well. A 2020 high school preseason first-team All-American, Hendrick wasn’t seen much this spring, but likely would have had a tough time changing his draft stock much given the competition. Hendrick is old for the class and will turn 19 in the middle of June. Still, he should be one of the first high school players selected, and it’s unlikely he makes it to campus at Mississippi State.