ORGANIZATION REPORTS
National League
A D-backs lefthander shows an uptick in velocity PAGE 36
A young Dodgers catcher perseveres to reach Los Angeles PAGE 37
A Mets 2020 draft pick earns rave reviews for his makeup PAGE 38
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Lefthander Tommy Henry’s fluctuations in velocity during his junior year at Michigan might have played a part in him lasting until the second round of the 2019 draft.
But there is good news out of the D-backs’ alternate site this summer. Henry’s velocity is up—and staying that way.
The 23-year-old, who went 12-5, 3.27 with 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 2019 at Michigan, has sat in the 93 mph range with his fastball and reached back for 95 when needed, holding that velocity through five-inning outings, according to assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye.
It is an encouraging sign for the 6-foot-3, 205-pound southpaw, who at times in 2019 saw his average fastball drop into the upper 80s—according to evaluators.
“I think that there were a few things mechanically that I emphasized in the offseason, along with long-tossing and weighted balls,” Henry said. “I tried to take advantage of the resources I have back home with school and the Diamondbacks and trying to utilize those to be as good as I can be.”
He said he’s getting better at incorporating his lower half in his delivery, finding a way to streamline his mechanics while maintaining his athleticism. He thinks that last year he was being both “too mechanical” and “too fine,” which he thinks explains the dip.
Henry said he still has work to do. His changeup has been a focus, and he said it’s become his favorite pitch to throw. He thinks his ability to improve that pitch is vital.
“I’m no hitter … but if you had to ask me, a well-executed changeup is probably the hardest pitch to hit in baseball,” he said.
Henry also has worked to utilize his slider in other ways. He said in the past he had been able to throw it for strikes and to bury it, but this year he has been working on using it as a backdoor pitch.
“I’m surrounded by really good coaches here,” Henry said. “I’ve had an opportunity to learn more about kind of how baseball becomes chess and not checkers at this level.”
—NICK PIECORO
ATLANTA BRAVES
The Braves included two 2020 draftees in their 60-man player pool: lefthander Jared Shuster and outfielder Jesse Franklin.
Shuster was the team’s first-rounder from Wake Forest. His college production wasn’t exciting, with an ERA exceeding 6.00, but the Braves saw him make significant strides since the Cape Cod League last summer.
In four starts this season, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound lefthander’s velocity had bumped from the upper 80s to the 91-95 mph range thanks to a revamped delivery. He posted a 43-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 26.1 innings before the pandemic ended the season.
Shuster’s changeup is his best pitch, grading as one of the best in his class. It produced a
