News
Henley seeking consistency in AFL
Cards prospect making most of time with Rafters
By Danny Wild / MLB.com
10/21/09 8:15 PM ET
Cardinals prospect Tyler Henley homered and knocked in three runs Wednesday as the Surprise Rafters held on for a 10-9 victory over the Peoria Saguaros.Henley and former Mets first-round pick Ike Davis teamed up twice to help the Rafters build a 7-0 cushion by the fifth inning. Surprise took a 1-0 lead in the second on doubles by Davis and Henley. Davis, who went 3-for-4, singled again in the fifth before Henley ripped his first Arizona Fall League homer, a two-run shot off Evan Englebrook (Astros) that made it 7-0.
"He has really good life on his fastball, but he left a pitch up and I was able to take it out," said Henley, a 2007 eighth-round pick out of Rice University who's batting .316 in seven AFL games. "Whenever a guy throws that hard, you just need to get the barrel on the ball and it'll take off."
Henley, a Texas League midseason and postseason All-Star with Double-A Springfield, said he enjoyed batting behind Davis -- at least on Wednesday. The 24-year-old outfielder hadn't played since Saturday and wanted to take advantage of every swing he got.
"It felt good. It's kinda tough, with so many guys not getting to play often," he said. "I've just been working on a few things, tried to execute those things. Overall, it was a really good day."
Yankees prospect Colin Curtis fell a double shy of the cycle and knocked in two runs, Mitch Moreland (Rangers) and Daryl Jones (Cardinals) homered and Bryan Anderson (Cardinals) drove in two runs for the Rafters.
"It's a lot of fun. Anytime you play against guys of this caliber, it makes it a lot of fun," Henley said. "You try to rise to the level of the competition. I'm excited to be here and hopefully I can continue to have good at-bats and play well."
Henley's first RBI came off Reds' first-round pick Mike Leake (0-1), a right-hander out of Arizona State who allowed two runs -- one earned -- on four hits over three innings to suffer the loss in his second professional outing.
"He has good stuff. He's got a good changeup, a fastball that's a little sneaky," Henley said. "I got some good pitches to hit and was able to lay off the stuff he was nibbling with."
Henley, who batted .303 with 13 homers and 63 RBIs during the regular season, said he's been working on staying consistent with each swing.
"I'm just trying to get more extension and be more consistent. Try to get some good pitches -- things that make hitters good," he explained. "I need to work on those things, get more extension to where those balls that might get caught end up going a little further."
Peoria made it interesting with three runs in the ninth off hard-throwing Cardinals prospect Adam Reifer.
"Anytime you're facing guys like that team, everyone can hit," Henley said. "One more swing, we would have lost that game. We're lucky to get out of there. Reifer has good stuff, but he's working on things as well. I'm glad he didn't end up losing it."
Reds Minor Leaguer Chris Heisey continued his hot hitting, going 4-for-5 with a triple, two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Saguaros (1-7). Josh Rodriguez (Indians) homered in the sixth and former first-round pick Yonder Alonso (Reds) hit a two-run shot, his second of the fall, in the ninth.
Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
