His exit velocity numbers elicited a rare Mike Trout comparison on draft night, while comparisons to Jay Bruce continue to pop up, too. The combination of light tower power in his lefty swing and an arm that seems ideally suited for right field helped make Pennsylvania high schooler Austin Hendrick a lock for the 1st round of this year’s modified MLB Draft, and the Cincinnati Reds jumped at the chance to select him 12th overall.
According to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, Hendrick is now officially in the fold, signing for $4 million in a slightly under-slot deal.