Brewers call up their 12th ranked prospect for much-needed pitching help

Only a psychic could have predicted the amount of roster fluctuation that the Brewers have experienced in the first two and a half weeks of the regular season. Highlighted by the numerous injuries to the pitching staff, the Brewers' roster is not what they were anticipating it would be on April 15th. However, there's one silver lining among the dark clouds of injuries that the Brewers have experienced thus far: opportunities for the organization's top prospects.

Just one month ago, when the Brewers' spring training was wrapping up, it looked as though the organization would start with a lethal three-headed monster in their Triple-A rotation consisting of Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, and Jacob Misiorowski. However, injuries reared their ugly head and forced the Brewers to promote one of their three elite pitching prospects before Opening Day even arrived. Patrick, who was the lowest-ranked prospect of the three, was included on the team's Opening Day roster and has already made three starts for the big-league club, posting an impressive ERA of 1.76 while racking up 13 strikeouts in 15.1 innings pitched. Now, the second prospect of the trio will get his shot in the big leagues.

Logan Henderson called up to the majors

With the service time manipulation deadline in the rearview mirror, the Brewers have made the decision to call up Henderson, their 12th-ranked prospect. Henderson, who is the team's third-highest-ranked pitching prospect behind Misiorowski and Robert Gasser, posted a 3.32 ERA across 19 starts a season ago. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, Henderson has quickly ascended through the Brewers' farm system, pitching in each of High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A last year.

While he does have the ability to throw three fastball shapes: a four-seamer, a sinker, and a cutter, Henderson relies heavily on the four-seam fastball, throwing it 51.5% of the time in his first three starts in 2025, according to FanGraphs. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, which increases his effectiveness against left-handed batters. Henderson did re-introduce a slider to his repertoire during the offseason, a pitch that he had surrendered for a higher-velocity, less-breaking cutter a season ago. He won't overpower hitters with his stuff, averaging just under 93 MPH with his four-seam fastball, but the mix of pitches and the impressive movement he generates on his changeup should keep them off-balance.

It remains to be determined what Henderson's role will be on the big-league roster as he replaces Elvin Rodriguez, who had made appearances both as a starter and a long reliever. The team could opt to slide Henderson into the starting rotation and move swingman Tyler Alexander to the bullpen, but calling up Henderson on a day when the team already has announced a starter would suggest that they might opt to ease him into the big leagues as a long reliever.