Phillies Prospect LHP Josh Hendrickson Shining in Australia

The start to the professional career of Phillies prospect and Australian native LHP Josh Hendrickson has shown nothing but promise.

Perhaps the Philadelphia Phillies have their next successful, perennial southpaw starting pitcher in their farm system after all, similar to homegrown 2008 World Series MVP, Cole Hamels.

Keep an eye on Perth, Australia, native and Phillies left-handed prospect, Josh Hendrickson. The Phillies drafted him in the 38th round of this year’s amateur draft out of the University of San Diego. And, this fall, the 6-foot-4, 22-year-old is taking part in Australian Baseball League action for his hometown Perth Heat.

In 16 combined games between the rookie-level GCL Phillies West and Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws for his first professional season with the Phillies, Hendrickson went 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA, 44-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 0.892 WHIP spanning four starts, 12 relief appearances and 37 innings. As a starter, in particular, Hendrickson went 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA, 21-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 0.857 WHIP through 21 innings.

Hendrickson’s success has carried over to the Perth Heat this fall in Australia, having struck out 23 batters and walked just two spanning 13 2/3 innings, while also posting a 2.63 ERA. In his most recent start, earlier on Sunday, the left-hander tossed five innings and allowed no hits and only one walk, while striking out a career-high 10 batters opposite Geelong-Korea. The walk was his only baserunner allowed.

Last March, D1Baseball.com’s Aaron Fitt described Hendrickson as being a “competitive, three-pitch lefty,” and that he has been able to “miss bats with his 86-87 fastball, keeping hitters off balance with a big 71-75 curve and decent changeup.”

Hendrickson was the Phillies’ third-to-last pick in this year’s draft; he went on to receive a $75,000 signing bonus, and could reach Double-A Reading this coming season.