Scouting report: Reds' Austin Hendrick

MiLB.com's new Scouting Report series spotlights players who are just starting their professional careers, focusing on what the experts are projecting for these young phenoms. Here's a look at third-ranked Reds prospect Austin Hendrick. For more player journeys on The Road to The Show, click here.

Until a left groin strain sidelined Austin Hendrick heading into June, it didn't seem as though there was anything capable of getting him out. Through his first 14 professional games, Cincinnati's No. 3 prospect posted a .466 on-base percentage while knocking five doubles and stealing a pair of bases for the Low-A Daytona Tortugas.

That performance was in keeping with what ought to have been expected from the left-handed-hitting outfielder coming into the season. The Reds grabbed Hendrick out of a Pennsylvania high school (West Allegheny, just outside of Pittsburgh) with the 12th overall pick in last year's Draft, and although he's only 19 years old, he possesses a 50-grade hit tool and 60-grade power, according to MLB Pipeline. In fact, if there had been one surprise about Hendrick's early returns, it's that he hadn't gone yard. Yet.

#Reds 2020 first-round draft pick @Aust_Hendrick7 is in the building! 💪💪💪#ReturnToTheJack pic.twitter.com/g5sOvQ2sN8

— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) May 2, 2021

Inexperienced as he is, Hendrick made an immediate impression on the Reds in the instructional league last fall.

“For a 19-year-old Northeast kid, he’s swung the bat well,” Cincinnati farm director Shawn Pender told MLB.com at the time. “He has tremendous power and bat speed. He’s a really hard worker. He has work to do on his defense and baserunning and he’s already made strides while here.”

Although his ability to hit for power and get on base at an impressive clip turns the most heads, Hendrick's well-rounded skill set is what makes him MLB.com's No. 72 overall prospect. He has enough speed to be a concern for opposing pitchers when he's on the bases -- as demonstrated by his two thefts so far -- and possibly to develop as a solid defender in center field, where he's already logged a couple games. Otherwise, his 55-grade arm will enable him to become a strong option in right.

That arm already came into play during a game on May 18, when Hendrick saved the day for the Tortugas. With two outs in the ninth inning and his team up by a run, the youngster ran down a knock to right by Troy Johnston and threw the Jupiter left fielder out at second base to end the game. It was Hendrick's third outfield assist as a professional, and it stands to reason there are plenty more to come.

Here's what the experts at MLB Pipeline have to say about Hendrick:

Scouting grades (20-80 scale):

HIT: 50
POWER: 60
RUN: 55
ARM: 55
FIELD: 50
OVERALL: 55

"While the Pittsburgh area isn’t exactly known as a huge amateur baseball hotbed, there have been some first-round quality bats to come out of the high school ranks in the region. Back in 2003, the Pirates took Neil Walker No. 11 overall and more recently, Alex Kirilloff went 15th to the Twins in 2016. In 2020, it was Hendrick’s turn when the Reds took him at No. 12 and signed him for $4 million, then saw him impress late in the alternate camp and during instructional league play.

"At his best, Hendrick’s left-handed bat is what stands out the most. He has as much raw power as anyone from the 2020 Draft and when he’s on time at the plate, it’s shown up in games against very good competition. He has very quick hands and plus bat speed, with leverage and loft and the ball jumps off his bat, while the bat head going through the zone sounds like a helicopter. He has, at times, listened to too many people in terms of his setup at the plate, forcing him get out of sync and leading to more swing-and-miss. There’s some rawness to his game, but that will be offset by the plus work ethic that was on display last summer after he signed.

"Hendrick isn’t a burner, but he is very athletic and runs well. The Reds will let him continue to play center field for now until he shows he can’t handle staying up the middle, but he has the arm and bat to profile well in right, so don’t be surprised to see him get time in both spots in the future."