Mandatory Credit: Robert M. Pimpsner and Bryan Green/Pinstriped Prospects.com
5. RHP Ty Hensley (0-0, 4.15)
On Sunday afternoon, we saw the potential that Ty Hensley has as a prospect in the Yankees’ organization. Against the best lineup in the New York-Penn League in the Tri-City Valleycats, Hensley had his fastball and breaking ball working. He struck out four batters and gave up one hit in three innings of work.
While Hensley has gone no more than three innings in each of his three starts, it is understandable considering all the injuries that he has had since being drafted in the first round of the 2012 Draft by the Yankees. The one thing I was impressed about Hensley’s outing is when he got out of the jam in the third inning with first and third and one out. He was able to get a strikeout and groundball to short to end the inning.
Hensley has 11 K’s in three starts, but had a bad break on August 10 when rain cut his outing short against Mahoning Valley. I talked to Ty after Sunday’s game about whether or not that rain-shortened outing changed his approach before the Tri-City start:
"“I just try to put that start behind me more than anything,” replied Hensley. “You never want to make an excuse about weather, but I had to battle through some things. I didn’t fight myself today, where as I did last time. I was going to let everything go.”"