White Sox: Meet Day 2 Picks from the 2017 MLB Draft
4th Round, 117th Overall – Lincoln Henzman, RHP, Louisville
Lincoln Henzman was Louisville’s closer. The 21-year-old right hander has 16 saves in 25 appearances for the Cardinals. And his team is headed to the College World Series. However, the White Sox have him listed as a pitcher. He was ranked 162nd overall.
According to MLB.com, his fastball stays between 90-95 mph. If he keeps it down in the zone, it’s virtually un-hittable. He also throws a really solid changeup, which can behave like a splitter and can be a plus pitch at times. Scouts feel he could move through the system faster as a reliever, but he had success as a starter in the Cape Cod League.
One concern is he already had Tommy John surgery when he was a junior in high school. Obviously he rebounded nicely and turned himself into a great reliever for Louisville. We’ll also have to see how his arm takes to an increased workload as a starter. He pitched 35 2/3 innings this season. Henzman should be a quality addition to the White Sox system, no matter where he ends up pitching.
"“They know I can come out of the bullpen if they need me to, and they watched me this past summer in the Cape [Cod League] through seven or eight starts and I guess they liked what they saw. So I will give them what they want.” Lincoln Henzman, White Sox 4th Round Pick"