Brewers: 3 Prospects Who Have Broken Out in 2023 As Minor League Season Wraps Up

Brewers breakout prospect: RHP Logan Henderson

Logan Henderson is the prospect with the most pedigree on this list, landing as Milwaukee's 18th-best prospect on their Top 30 Prospects list. Henderson was selected as a starting pitcher in the 4th round of the 2021 draft after leading McLennan (TX) Community College to a Junior College World Series title, taking home series MVP honors. Henderson had 169 strikeouts in 97.2 innings at McLennan, only walking 23, and holding batters to a .148 batting average.

Like Shane Smith, Henderson also underwent issues with his elbow, opting for a non-Tommy John elbow surgery before the 2022 season, and would take most of the 2022 season to rehab. Henderson would come back to make seven starts between the Complex League and Single-A in 2022, allowing six earned runs in 13.2 innings while striking out 23 and walking six. While the strikeout numbers were very encouraging, Henderson's season ended early after more arm soreness popped up, causing him to miss the Arizona Fall League.

Henderson came into his first full season with a healthy arm in 2023, and the numbers have been great in Single-A Carolina. Henderson has posted a 2.75 ERA in 18 starts (78.2 IP), striking out 106 batters, and only walking 23. He leads the Carolina League in K% (min. 60 IP) at 35.7%, and K/BB% at 26.6%. He has held opposing batters to a .183 batting average and holds a WHIP of 0.97, which are fifth-best and second-best in the league, respectively. The only player in the entire Milwaukee minor league system that he trails in K/BB% is Shane Smith.

Logan Henderson possesses a great two-pitch mix, with Fangraphs listing his changeup as a 60-grade pitch, along with his fastball being a 50-grade pitch. He struggles to command his slider, and it lacks the great break that his changeup has, creating some doubt about the use of that pitch in his future. Henderson also carries a high-effort delivery that leads some to consider him as more of a long-term reliever.

Regardless, Henderson has great strikeout numbers, and as long as he continues to produce and stay healthy as a starter, Milwaukee will continue to allow him to grow in that position. Henderson is a very talented prospect, and as he sits at only 78.2 career innings thrown since being drafted in Milwaukee, the Brewers are very hopeful for his future.