Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft, 55th overall, out of LSU
6'4, 211lbs
Completed his sophmore year at LSU before being drafted.
DOB: 7/15/1999, Florence AL
Originally drafted by the Tigers in 2008 in the 38th round.
Highlights via LSUsports.net
2019 Freshman All-SEC
2019 Perfect Game Freshman All-American
2019 NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team
2019 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
SEC Co-Freshman of the Week (April 22, 2019)
MLB Draft: 38th Round in 2018 (Detroit Tigers); 2nd Round in 2020 (No. 55 overall, Washington Nationals)
Has a three-pitch mix of a mid-90s fastball, hard 12-to-6 curveball, and late fading changeup ... his physical attributes, combined with an advanced knowledge of pitching, have allowed him to make a quick adjustment to the college game as a premier power pitcher.
2020 Season
LSU’s No. 1 starter on the mound in each of the four weekends of the shortened season, posting a 2-1 mark and a 1.89 ERA in 19 innings with six walks and 23 strikeouts ... defeated Texas (Feb. 28) at Minute Maid Park in Houston, allowing only two earned runs on four hits in six innings with two walks and 10 strikeouts ... earned the win in LSU’s season opener over Indiana (Feb. 14), firing four scoreless innings while recording no walks and eight strikeouts.
Lastwordonbaseball scouting report:
https://lastwordonbaseball.com/2020/05/15/cole-henry-2020-mlb-draft-profile/Strengths
RHP Cole Henry has the definition of a live arm when at its best. Back in his senior year of high school Perfect Game graded him with a FB Velocity of 94. The fastball gained 14 MPH after first being recorded by them. These days he consistently throws the heater between 90-94 MPH with movement. He has a quality pitch variety for a 20-year-old with a curveball (55) in the 70s that scouts have graded highly. For a velocity guy, the changeup (50) also has some potential in the mid-80s.
His success in minimal time at the collegiate level is one of the most attractive parts of Henry’s resume. After posting a 3.39 ERA in 58.1 innings with 72 strikeouts his 11.1 SO/9 was enough to earn an All-SEC Freshman spot in 2019. An elbow injury cut his season short, but he came back in a shortened 2020 with phenomenal numbers. Posting a 1.89 ERA over 19 innings with 23 strikeouts and an improved WHIP at 1.105.
Weaknesses
You can’t back down from stating the obvious, the health is a major concern here. Henry’s most recent injury came in the super regionals of 2019 against Florida State. A median nerve problem in his throwing arm forced an early exit for the Tigers’ star pitcher. After experiencing elbow soreness earlier in the year, the team gave him the summer off in 2019. Combine this all with a stress reaction in his upper arm in the fall of 2018 and there is reason to be concerned with his history.
Now, there are positives to look at in terms of his health. Despite the shortened season, his small sample size in 2020 was very encouraging after the way he left the super regionals. Another glass-half-full view of Henry could be that the cancelled college season could be just the rest he needs to fully recover.
They compare him to Kevin Gausman