Hentges looks powerful in Cleveland debut
Sam Hentges is one of the most intriguing players within Cleveland’s organization, a 6-foot-6 lefty who can hit the high 90s with a few complementary offerings. The raw skill-set is there. The organization sees a wealth of potential with him. What’s left is to see if it can all be put together, and how he finds a long-term opportunity in the majors.
Cleveland manager Terry Francona raved so much about Hentges in the past that president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti once jokingly referred to Hentges as “Sam Francona.”
“There’s so much to like with this kid,” Francona said this spring. “You’ve heard me use the term a few times, but it’s easy to dream. When you see a kid out there with that size, that arm, with the pitches he has. When it comes together, it’s going to be fun.”
On Tuesday night, Hentges got his first taste, working one inning in Cleveland’s 8-5 loss. Hestruck out three of the four batters he faced, all three on curveballs set up by his fastball, which topped out at 96.6 mph. He gave up a home run to Jose Abreu.
Hentges last summer pitched at the team’s alternate site. The sim games played there every day weren’t a proper replacement for a minor league season, but it was something, and it afforded many pitchers around the league a chance to continue working on some things.
“It was great. Last year, at the alternate site, there were a lot of great hitters over there, some of the young guys and then some of the guys who were bouncing back and forth,” Hentges said. “So the level of competition over there was pretty decent and it definitely helped me grow as a pitcher.“
“That’s not a fun at-bat,” first baseman Jake Bauers said earlier this spring. “That dude is the real deal. Whether he’s going to be a starter or put him in the bullpen and let him get three outs, I think he can handle either. That dude’s the real deal and he’s going to be here soon.”
It remains unclear what Hentges’ role will be moving forward, or what lies with his future for now. But on Tuesday he showed plenty of what has Cleveland dreaming for the long term.
“I thought his stuff was really good,” Francona said. “He looked composed, he looked poised. He threw strikes and his stuff was really good.”