Leading Off with Jeff Hendrix
RiverDogs centerfielder Jeff Hendrix has worked his way into the professional ranks, and now in his second year in the Yankees organization, looks to build off a promising start to find his way into the pinstripes and someday patrol the outfield grass at Yankee Stadium.
This season, the Corvallis, Oregon native has slid into the everyday starter role for the Charleston RiverDogs in the outfield. Since the beginning of the season, the speedy center fielder has led the team into battle from the lead off position.
Growing up in Corvallis, Oregon, Hendrix was in love with his hometown school, the Oregon State Beavers, and it was always his dream to play for orange and black. Hendrix found his way onto the team by taking a walk-on offer and developed into an eventual starter.
While at Oregon State in 2013, Hendrix's freshman season, he had the unique opportunity to play alongside Michael Conforto, current New York Mets outfielder who had a superb rookie season en route to a World Series appearance. Also not to mention, Hendrix made a start in the 2013 College World Series against Indiana.
As a sophomore in 2014, the Oregon State outfielder was selected to the All-Pac-12 First-Team, playing in 46 games, starting 43, and batted .351 with 11 doubles, five triples, two home runs and 32 RBI's. His batting average was third best in the Pac-12 for the season.
Hendrix has always looked up to Jacoby Ellsbury, who now plays in the famed Yankee Pinstripes, and also played for Oregon State. You could say Hendrix emulates a few of Ellsbury's on field characteristics.
In 2014, Hendrix got the call from the Kansas City Royals in the 39th round, but had unfinished business in Corvallis and wasn't planning on turning pro just yet.
"I really wasn't considering going at all, that's what I told everyone that I talked to; any of the scouts I talked to, I told them I was coming back for my junior year. I actually didn't even realize I was draft eligible until a month before the draft was coming. I was just focused on getting back for my junior year and just trying to see how far we could make it as a team and unfortunately we had a good team, but fell in the regionals that year."
The six-foot, 195-pounder was drafted by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2015 draft and has made his impact since being a part of the pinstriped family.
Hendrix remembers that special day: "I was in the middle of studying for finals. I was sitting in my room trying to study at least, I knew the whole draft and everything was going on, and I was kind of half studying, half paying attention to the tracker, and then I got the call. After that I couldn't study so it was a fun day."
Last season in Staten Island, Hendrix played in 65 games, posting a .229 batting average, driving in 14 while scoring 42 times, and stole 17 bases on 18 attempts. He also geared a .332 on base percentage with 28 walks and 10 HBP.
The outfielder was asked what the biggest difference was coming from college ball to the professional ranks and Hendrix responded, "I guess I'm still trying to figure everything out as far as what is really different. This is my first full year so, as far as you playing every day that's different as opposed to playing three or four games a week."
In 2016 the Corvallis, Oregon native slid into the everyday starter role for the Charleston RiverDogs.
Since the beginning of the season the speedy center fielder has led the team into battle from the lead off position and made spectacular plays in the outfield.
Thus far this season with the RiverDogs, Hendrix continues to produce as the front man finding ways to get on the base paths. Through 19 games with Charleston with number six on his back, Hendrix is hitting .234 with three RBI's and nine runs scored. He also holds a .359 on base percentage getting on with 12 walks and three hit by pitches.