Heath Hembree

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #7 prospect in 2014
  Expected to be the club's closer of the future, Hembree wasn't ready for any relief role when the Giants badly needed help in May and June. Instead, he gave up 17 runs in 21 innings to Triple-A Pacific Coast League hitters. Though Hembree had recovered from the forearm strain that bothered him a year earlier, his lack of a dependable secondary pitch kept him at Fresno. He improved in the second half and kept it up into September, when he was unscored upon in nine big league appearances. A seldom-used college closer, Hembree vaulted up the prospect rankings because of his 98 mph fastball and power slider. He pitched more effectively in the 92-94 mph range in 2013, but has addressed past issues of wildness within the strike zone and shows more ability to dial back and locate. Hembree's slider was the key to his second-half turnaround. He developed the ability to shape it to steal strikes or sweep it when he wants a strikeout. Hembree saved 31 games for Fresno and will be given every opportunity to win a job in the Giants bullpen this spring as a set-up man. Even if he never gets back that 98 mph heat, his size and stuff compare well with former Giant Bob Howry, who had a long career in late relief.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #7 prospect in 2013
  Hembree lasted five rounds in the 2010 draft because he was a seldom-used college closer who didn't pitch as a high school senior while rehabbing a knee injury sustained in a football game. He breezed through his first three stops in pro ball before hitting a speed bump at Triple-A Fresno in 2012. A strained flexor tendon cost him five weeks, though he rebounded with a solid Arizona Fall League. With a fastball that approaches triple digits and the makings of a power slider, Hembree has closer stuff. He works at 93-96 mph with quality life when fully healthy, and he got back up to 95 in the AFL. He's doing a better job of maintaining his arm slot, which has helped the consistency of his 82-85 mph slider. His changeup probably won't become anything more than a show-me pitch, but he has made some progress with it. If anything, Hembree's injury and diminished velocity showed him the importance of having dependable offspeed stuff. While he can be overpowering, he also has bouts of wildness and gets into trouble with walks. The Giants could use Hembree sooner rather than later in their bullpen, which is light on hard throwers from the right side. He'll probably begin 2013 in Triple-A, but a solid spring would put him in line for a callup the first time San Francisco finds itself short an arm.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #3 prospect in 2012
  Hembree lasted until the fifth round of the 2010 draft because he didn't have much of a track record with scouts. He missed his senior year of high school after tearing up his knee playing football and pitched just 29 innings in two seasons of NCAA Division I baseball (South Carolina in 2008, College of Charleston in 2010) sandwiched around one at Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) JC. In his first full pro season, he led the minors with 38 saves and reached Double-A. Hembree consistently works at 93-96 mph without having to muscle the ball. His fastball has explosive movement and he likes to work up the ladder, overpowering hitters at the letters. His slider has the makings of a plus pitch, while his changeup is a work in progress. Hembree won't get away with as many mistakes up in the zone against big leaguers, and he'll have to throw more strikes. He maintains his composure on the mound, a good attribute for a future closer. Hembree's stuff and cool under pressure demeanor have prompted the Giants to compare him to Brian Wilson. He has an easygoing personality and probably wears socks that actually match, so he's no Wilson clone, but he's likely to be pitching in meaningful, late-inning situations in the near future. Hembree will open 2012 in the minors but could be setting up Wilson by the all-star break.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #19 prospect in 2011
  Hembree was a draft curiosity as a seldom-used closer at the College of Charleston, with rumors in the scouting community that he could hit 100 mph. But he also walked 18 in 29 innings and he didn't have much track record, and he missed his senior year of high school with a torn ACL he sustained in a football game. He pitched only one inning as a college freshman at South Carolina before getting in a year of work in junior college and then at Charleston. Hembree signed relatively quickly and the Giants got right to work, giving him a simple guide move with his front arm that allowed him to repeat his otherwise clean delivery and stay on line to the plate. To call Hembree a quick learner would be an understatement. In 11 relief innings in the Arizona League, he struck out 22 and didn't walk a batter while working from 94-99 mph with his fastball and mixing in a power slider. San Francisco forced him to throw 90 percent changeups in instructional league and it wasn't deemed a wasted effort. He doesn't have a pitch to combat lefthanders, though some think his power repertoire and big hands make him an excellent future candidate for a splitter. Hembree profiles as a premium closer or set-up man, with the potential to move fast as a reliever.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #16 prospect in 2010
  The Giants love power arms out of the bullpen and may have found another one in the fifth round of the 2010 draft in Hembree. Despite being 21, he has a fresh arm after missing his senior year in high school due to a knee injury and pitching irregularly at three colleges over three years. He finished his collegiate career as a closer at the College of Charleston. Hembree looked anything but inexperienced after joining the Giants in late July, drawing raves for his overpowering 93-98 mph fastball and power slider. He struck out 22 in 11 innings while not issuing a walk. Hembree needs to improve his fastball command and life, and rely more on his slider. While he didn't use it in the AZL, he has the makings of an effective changeup and will work on it during instructional league.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Hembree lasted five rounds in the 2010 draft because he was a seldom-used college closer who didn't pitch as a high school senior while rehabbing a knee injury sustained in a football game. He breezed through his first three stops in pro ball before hitting a speed bump in 2012. A strained flexor tendon cost him five weeks, though he rebounded with a solid Arizona Fall League. Scouting Report: With a fastball that approaches triple digits and the makings of a power slider, Hembree has closer stuff. He works at 93-96 mph with quality life when fully healthy and got back up to 95 in the AFL. He's doing a better job of maintaining his arm slot, which has helped the consistency of his 82-85 mph slider. His changeup probably won't become anything more than a show-me pitch, but he has made some progress with it. If anything, Hembree's injury and diminished velocity showed him the importance of having dependable offspeed stuff. While he can be overpowering, he also has bouts of wildness. The Future: The Giants could use Hembree sooner rather than later in their bullpen, which is light on hard throwers from the right side. He'll probably begin 2013 in Triple-A, but a solid spring would put him in line for a callup the first time San Francisco finds itself short an arm.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Hembree lasted until the fifth round of the 2010 draft because he didn't have much of a track record. He missed his senior year of high school after tearing up his knee playing football and pitched just 29 innings in two seasons of NCAA Division I baseball (South Carolina in 2008, College of Charleston in 2010) sandwiched around one at Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) JC. In his first full pro season, he led the minors with 38 saves. Scouting Report: Hembree consistently works at 93-96 mph without having to muscle the ball. His fastball has explosive movement and he likes to work up the ladder, overpowering hitters at the letters. His slider has the makings of a plus pitch, while his changeup is a work in progress. Hembree won't get away with as many mistakes up in the zone against big leaguers, and he'll have to throw more strikes. He maintains his composure on the mound, a good attribute for a future closer. The Future: Hembree's stuff and confidence have prompted the Giants to compare him to Brian Wilson. He has an easygoing personality and probably wears socks that actually match, so he's no Wilson clone, but he's likely to be pitching in meaningful, late-inning situations in the near future. Hemree could be setting up Wilson by the all-star break.