Sunday Notes: Cole Henry Could Be Washington’s Next Tyler Clippard

Cole Henry might shut out video games for the Nationals subsequent season. Paul Toboni was noncommittal after I introduced up that chance throughout the Winter Conferences, but there are not any presently clear favorites to fill the function — not since Washington’s new president of baseball operations swapped southpaw Jose Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners in alternate for Harry Ford and Isaac Lyon in early December. And whereas the 26-year-old right-hander admittedly lacks ninth-inning expertise — simply two skilled saves — he has attributes suggestive of late-inning effectiveness.

Henry’s 2025 numbers function an argument each for and towards his assuming the nearer tasks that Ferrer had inherited when Kyle Finnegan was dealt to Detroit at July’s commerce deadline. Over 57 aid outings comprising 52-and-two-thirds innings, he held opposing batters to a .213 xBA whereas logging a better-than-league-average 25.6% whiff price. Much less encouraging had been the 5.34 FIP that accompanied his 4.27 ERA, and the 13.3% stroll price that accompanied his 21.6% strikeout price. Additionally notable was his .259 BABIP, however is {that a} pink flag, or is it really an indication that the Nationals may need stumbled upon their subsequent Tyler Clippard?

Pitching for Washington from 2008-2014, Clippard crafted a 2.68 ERA, a notably greater 3.46 FIP, an 15.8% infield-fly price, and a .233 BABIP (he additionally had 34 saves and 150 holds throughout that seven-year span). Henry’s infield-fly price this previous season was 21.4%, the third-highest mark in MLB amongst pitchers to throw no less than 50 innings. Solely Jordan Leasure (26.0%) and Alex Vesia (22.1%) induced a better proportion of pop-ups.

Henry’s arm slot differs from Clippard’s, however his supply nonetheless performs a job in his means to overlook barrels. Furthermore, his slot has dropped since he was drafted fifty fifth total in 2020 out of LSU. Eric Longenhagen pointed that out earlier this summer season:

“Henry was a High 100 prospect at this web site when he was exhibiting three plus pitches as a starter and on the doorstep of the large leagues in 2022. A litany of accidents, together with surgical procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome, relegated him to the bullpen and delayed his commencement till 2025… Henry’s launch level and magnificence have modified. He has lowered his arm slot a few inches and the axis of his fastball has been tweaked in order that it has extra rise/run motion than the sink and tail of earlier than. Despite the fact that he’s not working together with his absolute apex velocity, Henry’s mid-90s heater continues to be taking part in like a comfortably plus pitch towards massive league bats.”

In line with Henry, the alterations had been certainly a results of the accidents. After I broached the topic in September, he instructed me that he was much more excessive in faculty — his curveball was of the 12-6 selection — and that he’s mainly simply attempting to lean in to what comes naturally.

“We didn’t make a aware effort to do something specifically with that,” he defined. “It’s simply type of the best way it was after I began coming again throwing, and it felt good. I’ve mainly been on the market attempting to remain athletic, doing my factor and type of simply letting it play.

“Throwing from a special angle than guys are used to is an effective factor,” added Henry. “I’ve all the time had the run, and the decrease slot may assist it get slightly little bit of upshoot. To the batter, it seems prefer it carries.”

Sandy Alcantara is an fascinating comp when it comes to ride-run. Final yr, the Miami Marlins right-hander averaged 13.1 inches of induced vertical break and 14.1 inches of induced horizontal break on his heater, whereas Henry averaged 14.2 vertical and 14.5 horizontal. After which there’s Minnesota Twins righty Pablo López. He averaged 14.2 vertical and 6.5 horizontal. In the meantime, Alcantara’s BABIP was .278, and is .273 for his profession. López’s BABIP was .278, and a roughly-league-average .297 for his profession.

The influence Henry’s decrease slot has had on his secondaries can also be value addressing.

“I’d say that my curveball has was extra of a sweeper,’ Henry instructed me. “We name it a sweeper, though Savant classifies it as a curveball. It’s normally wherever from 13 to 17 horizontal, after which I’ll get slightly little bit of detrimental vert — it is going to be negative-one, negative-two — though generally it is going to be constructive vert. So, to me it’s sweepery extra so than a curveball. Regardless, I’m positively a special pitcher now than I was.”

Possibly even one who can be getting ninth-inning alternatives for the Nationals. Whereas he doesn’t particularly profile as a better, neither did Clippard when he slid into that function some years in the past (then turned a setup man as soon as Rafael Soriano, and later Drew Storen, entered the image). Clippard’s profession .241 BABIP is the bottom amongst pitchers to throw 800 or extra innings over the previous 20 seasons. May Henry transform an identical model of reliever? Simply now, he presents as an intriguing choice for the again finish of Washington’s pen.

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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Danny Santana went 9 for 14 towards Gerrit Cole.

Yordan Alvarez is 7 for 13 towards Cole Ragans.

Henry “Heinie” Groh went 10 for 23 towards Pace Martin.

Dick Cole went 10 for 23 towards Carl Erskine.

Dave Hollins went 15 for 23 towards Butch Henry.

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Jacob Wilson has a easy method on the plate — the 23-year-old Athletics infielder is mainly see-ball-hit-ball — and his pregame prep is likewise easy. I realized as a lot after I talked to him again in September.

“I do lots of tee work: foam balls, attempting to remain on prime of the ball, utilizing my fingers to place it the place I need it,” Wilson defined. “I don’t hit off of a machine. If I need to do BP, I’ll hit off of dwell arms, however largely I’m simply attempting to get the physique able to go on the market and play the sport. I’ve had the identical routine since I used to be in highschool. If it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.”

There are definitely issues that the 2023 first-rounder can enhance upon, however what he’s doing definitely works. Enjoying his first full big-league season in 2025, he slashed .311/.355.44 with 13 dwelling runs and a 121 wRC+.

In the case of conversations within the cage, Wilson enjoys speaking to Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers, partly as a result of they’re fellow right-handed hitters who’ve first-hand information of pitchers he has little or no expertise towards. Extra usually, he finds that speaking hitting relies upon lots on the day, “relying on what guys are feeling.” As for the way deep into the weeds he usually will get, once more, Wilson likes to maintain it easy.

“I strive to not assume an excessive amount of about hitting,” he instructed me. “After I assume an excessive amount of it begins to go the mistaken manner, so I type of simply see ball, hit ball. That’s my method. I see it and hit it.”

The numbers again that up. Wilson’s 5.2% stroll price was fifteenth lowest in MLB amongst certified hitters, whereas his 7.5% strikeout price was second lowest behind solely Luis Arraez, who had a paltry 3.1% Ok-rate (and a 5.0% BB-rate).

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A quiz:

Which participant has hit essentially the most dwelling runs in a single season all through Cincinnati Reds franchise historical past? (A touch: he went deep an NL-best 52 occasions that yr whereas additionally setting a still-standing franchise file for many RBIs in a single season.)

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NEWS NOTES

FYI: Information Notes — ditto Overseas Affairs — is off this week as this column was largely pre-written. The final seven days have been spent in London, having fun with soccer matches, museums, pubs, and numerous different trip actions with relations.

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The reply to the quiz is George Foster, who had 149 RBIs to go together with his 52 dwelling runs for the Reds within the 1977 season.

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Bryce Cunningham was one of many extra intriguing arms within the Arizona Fall league this previous October. A second-round choose of the New York Yankees out of Vanderbilt College in 2024, the 23-year-old (as of late December) right-hander was within the desert making up for innings misplaced resulting from a shoulder damage. He’d pitched properly when absolutely wholesome. All instructed, Cunningham crafted a 2.82 ERA and a 25% strikeout price over 54-and-a-third innings with Excessive-A Hudson Valley.

His acclimation to skilled baseball has included classes in pitch design.

“The analytical facet right here is far more superior than something I’d been launched to,” Cunningham defined throughout his AFL stint. “It’s been actually cool to see that, and I’m positively studying issues to work on. I’m not making any adjustments to my outdated pitches, however I’m studying new ones. Pitch grips are the large issues for me proper now.”

The Headland, Alabama native had all the time attacked hitters with a four-seam fastball and a changeup, in addition to the occasional gyro slider. The Yankees have had him add a curveball, which he’s throwing with a spiked grip, and a sweeper that he’s throwing with “slightly child spike.” Cunningham feels that he has each grips “fairly nailed down,” though “sprucing touches” are wanted. He instructed me that the sweeper continues to be extra of a piece in progress, whereas the hook has been coming alongside properly.

His plus changeup has a historical past that features non permanent residence within the righty’s again pocket.

“It’s the identical because it’s all the time been — it’s only a four-seam circle changeup — however I really had slightly interval in faculty the place, in summer season ball, I began throwing a splitter,” Cunningham defined. “I didn’t have a great really feel for my changeup at the moment, so I threw a cut up for a number of months. Then I obtained again to highschool within the fall and was messing round in catch-play, throwing the outdated changeup, simply to see the place it was at. For some motive, it was higher than earlier than. That was bizarre. I’ve gone with it ever since.”

Cunningham is presently ranked seventh amongst Yankees prospects by Baseball America, whereas MLB Pipeline has him two spots greater at quantity 5. Our NYY rankings are forthcoming.

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A random obscure former participant snapshot:

Max West hit a three-run homer within the first inning, jumpstarting the Nationwide League to a 4-0 win over the American League within the 1940 Midsummer Traditional, which was performed at St. Louis’s Sportsman’s Park. It was the one All-Star look for the Dexter, Missouri native, who was then in his third of 5 full seasons with the Boston Bees (who turned referred to as the Braves in 1941). An outfielder, West went deep 64 occasions whereas logging a 117 wRC+ from 1938-1942, then missed the subsequent three seasons serving his nation within the Military Air Corps throughout World Struggle II.

West’s profession quickly went south after he returned to civilian life — he batted simply .198 over 160 video games whereas seeing motion with three MLB groups from 1946-1948 — however then got here a California revival. The long-forgotten slugger starred within the Pacific Coast League, swatting 78 dwelling runs for the San Diego Padres throughout the 1949-1950 seasons, and one other 70 homers for the Los Angeles Angels within the ensuing two seasons.

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I’ve lengthy been of the opinion that Invoice Freehan has a Corridor of Fame argument. Whereas his numbers don’t precisely bounce off the web page, the erstwhile Detroit Tigers stalwart was perennially the most effective catcher within the American League for a decade-plus. Over a 12-year span (1964-1975), Freehan earned All-Star honors 11 occasions, received 5 Gold Gloves, and backstopped his workforce to a World Collection title in 1968. A great hitter at a defense-first place throughout a pitcher-friendly period, he slugged 200 dwelling runs and put up a 113 wRC+ over his profession.

Which brings us to Dave Concepcion. I had by no means actually considered the longtime (1970-1988) Cincinnati Reds shortstop as a Corridor of Famer, however a latest dialog with a proponent of his worthiness prompted me to revisit his bona fides. One of many issues I found is that he and Freehan make for an fascinating comp.

In a 10-year stretch spanning the 1973-1982 seasons, Concepcion made 9 All-Star groups, received 5 Gold Gloves, and served as a cornerstone on a pair of World Collection championship squads. Overshadowed on a star-studded Huge Purple Machine, the slick-fielding Venezuela native received two Silver Sluggers and led all senior circuit shortstops in WAR, hits, doubles, and residential runs over that span.

Does being the most effective in his league at a premium defensive place, for an prolonged interval, qualify a participant as Corridor-worthy? In all probability not, however it’s an argument in favor, with Concepcion and Freehan being prime examples.

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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE

Longtime Kansas Metropolis Royal Alex Gordon is on this yr’s Corridor of Fame poll. Mark Simon wrote about “one among baseball’s finest defensive gamers of the final 25 years” for Sports activities Information Options.

At Nearly Cooperstown, Mark Kolier wrote about 50 years of MLB closers.

At The Koppett Cat, Mike Ficher wrote about pitcher utilization and the way Main League Baseball has modified.

From the slowest pitch for a strikeout to the quickest inside-the-park dwelling run, MLB.com’s David Adler chronicled the 15 most excessive Statcast performs of 2025.

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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS

Tim Raines stole 807 bases and was caught stealing 146 occasions. Tony Fernandez stole 246 bases and was caught stealing 138 occasions.

Lou Gehrig’s given first title was Henry. The Corridor of Fame first baseman’s center title was Louis.

Nellie Fox’s given first title was Jacob. The Corridor of Fame second baseman’s center title was Nelson.

Artwork Weaver — full title: Arthur Coggshall Weaver — was a catcher/first baseman who performed for 4 MLB groups, together with each that had been situated in St. Louis, throughout the 1902-1908 seasons. Nicknamed “Six-O’Clock,” the Wichita native additionally suited up for a number of groups within the minors, together with the Boise Irrigators, Cedar Rapids Rabbits, Nice Falls Electrics, Omaha Omahogs, and Salt Lake Metropolis Skyscrapers.

The Minnesota Twins signed Brian Harper to a free agent contract on at present’s date in 1988. On the time a journeyman catcher who had performed for 5 groups, solely in backup roles, he went on to develop into a mainstay in Minnesota from 1988-1993. Harper was behind the plate when John Smoltz shut out the Atlanta Braves in Sport 7 of the 1991 World Collection.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Chin-Feng Chen as a global free agent on at present’s date in 1999. An outfielder from Tainan Metropolis, Chen went on to develop into the primary participant born in Taiwan to play in MLB when he debuted with the Dodgers in 2002. Whereas his success stateside was scant — simply two hits in 22 at-bats — he later excelled within the Chinese language Skilled Baseball League.

Gamers born on at present’s date embody Blondy Ryan, who performed for 4 groups, primarily the New York Giants, from 1930-1938. A product of the School of the Holy Cross, Ryan was the beginning shortstop for the 1933 World Collection champion Giants workforce that included Corridor of Famers Carl Hubbell, Mel Ott, and Invoice Terry.

Additionally born on at present’s date was Corky Valentine, a right-hander who went 14-12 with a 4.81 ERA over 221 innings for the Cincinnati Reds throughout the 1954-1955 seasons. Per his B-Ref bio web page, the Roswell, Georgia native was as soon as described by Henry Aaron as “Probably the most ornery character within the league. I’m not saying he was a racist; I believe Corky Valentine simply hated everyone.”