LOS ANGELES — The only thing quicker than Edgardo Henriquez’s rapid rise to the major leagues is the 104 mph fastball that got him into the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen.
Henriquez referenced that number — 104 — multiple times on Tuesday as the Dodgers officially called up the hard-throwing pitching prospect. The figure was his ticket to the major leagues; it’s a threshold that just nine pitchers have crossed since pitch-tracking data first became available in 2008. Henriquez’s average fastball this season is 99.7 mph, including a pitch that was tracked at a reported 104 mph while with Double-A Tulsa in August.
Out for his second inning of work, Edgardo Henriquez just hit 104 mph pic.twitter.com/CVULSNOs8n https://t.co/hXoz8PnTRD
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 4, 2024
That was why the Dodgers fast-tracked the 22-year-old right-hander through five levels of their system and added him to their roster in the final week of the regular season. In his first season after Tommy John surgery, the Venezuelan flamethrower has logged a 2.72 ERA in 53 minor league innings spanning from A-ball to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“I always had this possibility on my mind,” Henriquez said in Spanish. “Like I said, I was staying strong to be able to achieve this.”
The velocity is extreme — and tantalizing. Issues with strike-throwing, particularly in his last stop with Oklahoma City, could make the idea of the Dodgers leaning heavily on him risky. But it’s a chance worth taking. The Dodgers would have had to add Henriquez to their 40-man roster in December anyway or risk him being selected in the Rule 5 draft this winter. Now, they’ll see if they can catch lightning in a bottle with a chance of Henriquez still being eligible for the postseason (since he was in the organization by Aug. 31, the Dodgers can still add him through a waiver with the league office or as an injury replacement, both of which happen quite often in these cases).
“That’s certainly high regard when you’re talking about Frankie Rodríguez and what he did for the Angels,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, alluding to Francisco Rodríguez’s dominant rookie run on his way to the 2002 World Series. “It’s a variance play. Get him in here. Get him in the big leagues. And see how he looks, how he responds and go from there. But he’s certainly a weapon. He’s secret in the sense that I don’t think anyone knows him outside of our organization, as far as the major leagues. But it’s gonna be exciting to watch him make his debut.”
Henriquez’s arrival comes at a critical time. The Dodgers are looking to expand their division lead and close out the NL West with the second-place San Diego Padres in town at Dodger Stadium.
“We’re trying to put these guys to bed, so I’m going to do everything we can to win tonight,” Roberts said.
Henriquez might not be the only notable addition to a bullpen that might be as close to full strength as it has been at any point this season. Roberts said Anthony Banda could return this week, just two weeks after suffering a fracture in his pitching hand. Given the Dodgers’ starting pitching questions this October, a reliable bullpen will be as critical as ever.
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(Photo courtesy of Eddie Kelly)
