David Hensley Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	59
AVG	.254
OBP	.405
SLG	.407
HR	1

Full name David James Hensley
Born 03/28/1996 in San Diego, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School San Diego State
Debut 08/27/2022
Drafted in the 26th round (792nd overall) by the Houston Astros in 2018.

View Draft Report

Hensley is famous among San Diego-area scouts as the only player who barreled up Brady Aiken in high school during the 2014 season, the year Aiken went No. 1 overall in the draft. Hensley went on to a decorated four-year career at San Diego State that concluded with a .316 average this year as the Aztecs’ starting shortstop. Hensley is the rare college senior who has some projectability left. He’s 6-foot-6 with a low waist, long torso and long arms, resulting in plenty of room to still add strength. Hensley has a good feel for the barrel and shows hints of power, although nothing projects plus. Defensively he held his own at shortstop despite his size but projects to move to third base, where his average arm and reliable hands work.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium

Track Record: Drafted in the 26th round in 2018 as a senior sign out of San Diego State, Hensley played all over the diamond for the Aztecs, converting from right fielder to shortstop his senior season. Noted for his athleticism, Hensley was primarily a contact-driven player in college. As a professional, he has slowly tapped into more raw power. After a full season at Double-A Corpus Christi in 2021, Hensley was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land to start 2022. There, Hensley hit .298/.420/.478 with 30 doubles, 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 104 games. Called up to Houston in late August, Hensley hit .345/.441/.586 in 16 games and was included on the Astros' postseason roster. He made two starts in the World Series, collecting hits in each game.

Scouting Report: Hensley is a well-rounded player but an unusual profile as a 6-foot-6 middle infielder. He's also a late-bloomer who will play the 2023 season at age 27. At the plate, his hitting identity is centered around his above-average bat-to-ball skills and advanced approach. Hensley rarely expands his zone, and his 17% chase rate was among the lowest for qualified Triple-A hitters. While his raw power and exit velocity data is plus, Hensley's power mostly manifests in the form of hard-struck, stinging liners. His swing is fairly level and produces lots of ground balls. Hensley is an average runner and instinctive basestealer capable of reading opposing pitchers' timing. Defensively, Hensley is a tweener. While he can fill in at shortstop when needed, his best position is second base or third base.

The Future: Hensley fits the profile of a super-utility player for a competitive team and is most capable on the infield but also playable at any position but catcher in a pinch.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 45

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium

Track Record: Drafted in the 26th round in 2018 as a senior sign out of San Diego State, Hensley played all over the diamond for the Aztecs, converting from right fielder to shortstop his senior season. Noted for his athleticism, Hensley was primarily a contact-driven player in college. As a professional, he has slowly tapped into more raw power. After a full season at Double-A Corpus Christi in 2021, Hensley was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land to start 2022. There, Hensley hit .298/.420/.478 with 30 doubles, 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 104 games. Called up to Houston in late August, Hensley hit .345/.441/.586 in 16 games and was included on the Astros' postseason roster. He made two starts in the World Series, collecting hits in each game.

Scouting Report: Hensley is a well-rounded player but an unusual profile as a 6-foot-6 middle infielder. He's also a late-bloomer who will play the 2023 season at age 27. At the plate, his hitting identity is centered around his above-average bat-to-ball skills and advanced approach. Hensley rarely expands his zone, and his 17% chase rate was among the lowest for qualified Triple-A hitters. While his raw power and exit velocity data is plus, Hensley's power mostly manifests in the form of hard-struck, stinging liners. His swing is fairly level and produces lots of ground balls. Hensley is an average runner and instinctive basestealer capable of reading opposing pitchers' timing. Defensively, Hensley is a tweener. While he can fill in at shortstop when needed, his best position is second base or third base.

The Future: Hensley fits the profile of a super-utility player for a competitive team and is most capable on the infield but also playable at any position but catcher in a pinch.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium

Track Record: Drafted in the 26th round in 2018 as a senior sign out of San Diego State, Hensley played all over the diamond for the Aztecs, converting from right fielder to shortstop his senior season. Noted for his athleticism, Hensley was primarily a contact-driven player in college. As a professional, he has slowly tapped into more raw power. After a full season at Double-A Corpus Christi in 2021, Hensley was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land to start 2022. There, Hensley hit .298/.420/.478 with 30 doubles, 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 104 games. Called up to Houston in late August, Hensley hit .345/.441/.586 in 16 games and was included on the Astros' postseason roster. He made two starts in the World Series, collecting hits in each game.

Scouting Report: Hensley is a well-rounded player but an unusual profile as a 6-foot-6 middle infielder. He's also a late-bloomer who will play the 2023 season at age 27. At the plate, his hitting identity is centered around his above-average bat-to-ball skills and advanced approach. Hensley rarely expands his zone, and his 17% chase rate was among the lowest for qualified Triple-A hitters. While his raw power and exit velocity data is plus, Hensley's power mostly manifests in the form of hard-struck, stinging liners. His swing is fairly level and produces lots of ground balls. Hensley is an average runner and instinctive basestealer capable of reading opposing pitchers' timing. Defensively, Hensley is a tweener. While he can fill in at shortstop when needed, his best position is second base or third base.

The Future: Hensley fits the profile of a super-utility player for a competitive team and is most capable on the infield but also playable at any position but catcher in a pinch.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 45
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Drafted in the 26th round of the 2018 draft as a senior sign out of San Diego State, Hensley played all over the diamond for the Aztecs, converting from starting right fielder to starting shortstop his senior season. Noted for his athleticism, Hensley was primarily a contact-driven player in college. As a professional, he&#39s slowly tapped into more raw power. After a full season at Double-A Corpus Christi in 2021, Hensley was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land to start 2022.

Scouting Report: Hensley is a tall and athletic player who&#39s logged time at all four infield positions in each of the last two seasons. Offensively, he&#39s shown steady progression over the last three seasons as a hitter, improving his power and plate discipline at each level. He&#39s shown strong contact skills dating back to college, an unusual trait for a player his size. As he&#39s progressed from a moderately aggressive hitter to a patient one he&#39s seen his overall production rise. He&#39s also tapped into another level of raw power with average exit velocity and top 10 percentile exit velocities ranking well above major league average. Hensley is a late-blooming player with a versatile defensive profile and a blossoming combination of contact, power and approach at the plate.

The Future: A nearly ready utility player with true defensive versatility and developing offensive prowess with real impact in the bat, Hensley could develop into an everyday regular on a second-division club.