*** Diamonds In the Rough - Ben Hendrickson ***
The My Sportsbook
by Phil Leichner, Minor League Baseball Staff Writer
Picture this: Your first ever All-Star game and you're given the enviable task of starting the game. It wasn't too long ago that you were coming back from an elbow injury that sidelined you for two months in the 2003 season. For Indianapolis Indians pitcher Ben Hendrickson, it was quite an honor that he was given the nod to start this past week's Triple-A All-Star Game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Look at the numbers he has put up in the International League this season: an 8-2 record with an ERA of 2.27, good for first in the IL, and 74 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched. Taking the mound to start Wednesday night's affair was the culmination of a brilliant first-half of the season in which the Eden Prairie, Minnesota native found his way to the Milwaukee Brewers starting rotation in early June.
After spending the 2003 season with Double-A Huntsville of the Southern League, Hendrickson began 2004 with Indianapolis. The 23-year-old got off to a solid start, posting a 3-0 record in the month of April. On April 22nd, he recorded seven strikeouts in 5 1/3rd shutout innings in his second win of the year versus the Toledo Mud Hens. However, the following month Hendrickson did not experience the same type of success.
The right-handed hurler only registered one win in six starts and allowed a season high 10 hits against the Durham Bulls on the 23rd (his only win in the month). Hendrickson also endured one of his worst outings of the season in a contest versus the Pawtucket Red Sox. In five innings he allowed six earned runs on five hits and three walks. Despite the sub-par month, Hendrickson achieved one goal he had set for himself this season: a call up to the Milwaukee Brewers before they played the Minnesota Twins (his favorite team).
"My goal was to get called up before they (Brewers) played the Twins. But it was to stay up there for good, not just go up for one start," Hendrickson explained.
The one start came versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 2nd. Hendrickson was shaky in five innings as he allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He fanned two in the loss. Even though he didn't stay up until the Twins series, Hendrickson in part felt he accomplished his goal.
"In a way I met my goal but I really didn't. Now I'm just trying to get back up there and help the team win," he stated.
After his brief stint with the Brewers, Hendrickson found himself back with Indians and playing as well as he did in April. In his first two starts, he didn't allow a run and earned his fifth win of the season against the Charlotte Knights. Hendrickson yielded just two hits and struck out three in the game. He finished the month a perfect 3-0 in minor league play. In addition, Hendrickson recorded the longest outing of his career. On the 29th, he tossed a complete game where he struck out nine and allowed one earned run on 109 pitches in a no-decision.
Even though the Brewers insist on a 100-pitch limit in all of his outings, Hendrickson carried 95-pitches into the ninth and was given the go-ahead to finish the game.
"They want to keep it within reason every time I go out on the mound (right at 100 pitches)," he explained. "If I'm going into the ninth inning like I was earlier this year and had 95 pitches under my belt they would allow me to finish the game."
Throwing that many pitches in one game doesn't bother the young hurler either.
"It felt good. If you throw 25-30 pitches an inning that is what wears on you not the 12-pitch innings over the course of an entire game," he said.
Before the All-Star break, Hendrickson capped the first half of the season with his eighth win of the season. When asked about the first-half, he had this to say:
"It's going good so far. Numbers wise its good. Of course the All-Star game is always fun and this is my first one," Hendrickson commented. "It's a learning experience for me and on the other hand I just want to relax, have fun and enjoy it."
He went on to discuss the honor of being name the International League starting pitcher.
"It's a great honor. The coaches, the media and the players look at you in a different light and it feels good," he stated.
As for the game itself, Hendrickson allowed two runs on three hits and walked three. He struck out one as the IL All-Stars defeated the Pacific Coast League, 4-3 in 10 innings.
It seems as though Hendrickson's dominant first half will pay off as a promotion back to Milwaukee is eminent. Although no official announcement has been made by Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin, Wes Obermueller, the first half fifth starter for the team, has been demoted to Triple-A leaving an opening for Hendrickson. The Brewers are expected to make a decision by Sunday.
