Baltimore Orioles Claim Liam Hendriks
March 21, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Liam Hendriks (62) throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Orioles seem intent upon getting an Aussie in their system. And since the entire Grant Balfour situation blew up, they have found another Down Under pitcher (from Perth – not talking about delivery style) by claiming 24-year-old Liam Hendriks off of waivers from the Chicago Cubs (who earlier this month had claimed him from the Twins).
Hendriks was signed by the Twins as a free agent in 2007 and has pitched mostly in their minor league system. Over the past three seasons he has appeared in 30 games for the Twins, 28 of which were as a starter.
His major league numbers are not good: a record of 2-13 and ERA of 6.06.
Here are his stats from portions of three seasons with the Twins …
Year |
Age
Tm
Lg
W
L
ERA
G
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
H/9
HR/9
BB/9
SO/9
SO/BB
2011
22
MINAL
0
2
6.17
4
23.1
29
16
16
3
6
16
1.500
11.2
1.2
2.3
6.2
2.67
2012
23
MINAL
1
8
5.59
16
85.1
106
61
53
17
26
50
1.547
11.2
1.8
2.7
5.3
1.92
2013
24
MINAL
1
3
6.85
10
47.1
67
39
36
10
14
34
1.711
12.7
1.9
2.7
6.5
2.43
3 Yrs
2
13
6.06
30
156.0
202
116
105
30
46
100
1.590
11.7
1.7
2.7
5.8
2.17
However, his minor league numbers would seem to indicate a person on the verge of making it in the big show. Here are his stats for the past three years at the Twins’ AAA affiliate Rochester (Make special note of the walks/strike outs ratio) …
Lev |
W
L
ERA
G
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
H/9
HR/9
BB/9
SO/9
SO/BB
AAA
17
15
3.61
41
254.0
243
110
102
14
46
174
1.138
8.6
0.5
1.6
6.2
3.78
Fans will scoff at this as another “AAAA” type of player that Dumpster Dan has picked up, and I can understand that skepticism. I’m sure the thinking is that this is a fellow with upside potential that can perhaps be developed in a new place with the Orioles’ pitching instructional “new set of eyes.” What are the chances of that? Honestly, not good … but not impossible. I’ve got two words for the skeptics: 1. Miguel, 2. Gonzalez.
Throw another shrimp on the bar-be mate!