Sam Hentges
{{distinguish|Sam Hentges (ice hockey)}}
{{Short description|American baseball pitcher (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Sam Hentges
|image = Sam Hentges (52065475557) (cropped).jpg
|caption = Hentges with the Cleveland Guardians in 2022
|width = 250
|team = Cleveland Guardians
|number = 31
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|7|18}}
|birth_place = Shoreview, Minnesota, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = April 20
|debutyear = 2021
|debutteam = Cleveland Indians
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = 2024 season
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 7–8
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 4.18
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 223
|teams =
- Cleveland Indians / Guardians ({{mlby|2021}}–present)
}}
Samuel David Hentges (born July 18, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the fourth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Amateur career
Hentges attended Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minnesota and as a senior in 2014, was the St. Paul Pioneer Press baseball player of the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2014/04/14/high-school-baseball-with-sam-hentges-mounds-view-still-team-to-beat/|title=High school baseball: With Sam Hentges, Mounds View still team to beat|date=April 14, 2014|website=twincities.com|access-date=December 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2014/06/09/high-school-baseball-sam-hentges-of-mounds-view-is-pioneer-press-player-of-year/|title=High school baseball: Sam Hentges of Mounds View is Pioneer Press player of year|date=June 9, 2014|website=twincities.com|access-date=December 14, 2018}} He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas.{{cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=343588 |title=Sam Hentges Class of 2014 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA |publisher=Perfectgame.org |access-date=January 7, 2021}} He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the fourth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.
Professional career
Hentges signed with the Indians, forgoing his commitment to Arkansas, and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Indians, compiling a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings.
Hentges pitched 2015 with the Arizona League Indians and Mahoning Valley Scrappers, pitching to a combined 3–5 record and 4.37 ERA in 13 total games (11 starts) between both teams. He started 2016 with the Lake County Captains, but had his season ended early after undergoing Tommy John surgery.{{cite web|url=https://www.presspubs.com/shoreview/sports/local/hentges-sidelined-after-arm-surgery-in-second-pro-season/article_7255d0ae-5e81-11e6-b0f3-9f368e15668c.html|title=Hentges sidelined after arm surgery in second pro season|first=Bruce|last=Strand|website=Press Publications|date=August 9, 2016 |access-date=December 14, 2018}} He returned in 2017 and played with the Arizona League Indians and Mahoning Valley, going 0–4 with a 3.23 ERA in 11 starts. In 2018, Hentges played with the Lynchburg Hillcats{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/toolshed-cleveland-indians-prospect-sam-hentges-growing-into-himself/c-272931562|title=Toolshed: Tribe's Hentges growing into himself|website=MiLB.com|access-date=December 14, 2018}} where he was 6–6 with a 3.27 ERA in 23 starts.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=656529#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL|title=Sam Hentges Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=October 16, 2018}}
The Indians added Hentges to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2018, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2018/11/cleveland-indians-put-bobby-bradley-sam-hentges-jean-carlos-mejia-on-40-man-add-rhp-lockett-in-trade-with-san-diego.html|title=Cleveland Indians put Bobby Bradley, Sam Hentges, Jean Carlos Mejia on 40-man; add RHP Lockett in trade with San Diego|first1=Paul|last1=Hoynes|last2=clevel|last3=.com|website=cleveland.com|date=November 21, 2018|access-date=December 14, 2018}} He began 2019 with the Akron RubberDucks.{{cite web|last=Bournival |first=Brad |url=https://www.ohio.com/sports/20190408/hard-throwing-rubberducks-left-hander-sam-hentges-has-high-ceiling |title=Hard-throwing RubberDucks left-hander Sam Hentges has a high ceiling - Sports - Akron Beacon Journal - Akron, OH |work=Akron Beacon Journal |publisher=Ohio.com |access-date=January 7, 2021}} He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=August 19, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}
On April 17, 2021, Hentges was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/indians-option-ben-gamel-recall-sam-hentges.html|title=Indians Option Ben Gamel, Recall Sam Hentges|date=April 17, 2021 }} He made his MLB debut on April 20, giving up one run in one inning pitched against the Chicago White Sox. Hentges made 30 appearances (12 starts) for Cleveland during his rookie campaign, posting a 1–4 record and 6.68 ERA with 68 strikeouts across {{fraction|68|2|3}} innings pitched.
On September 19, 2022, while pitching against the Minnesota Twins, Hentges tossed {{fraction|2|1|3}} perfect innings to earn his first career save.{{Cite web|title=Guardians' Sam Hentges: Picks up first save|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-sam-hentges-picks-up-first-save/|access-date=June 21, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=September 20, 2022 |language=en}} In 2022, Hentges made 57 appearances out of the bullpen for Cleveland, and went 3–2 with a 2.32 ERA, 0.968 WHIP and 72 strikeouts across 62 innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2022.shtml|title=2022 Cleveland Guardians Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} Hentges pitched in 56 contests for the Guardians in 2023, compiling a 3–2 record and 3.61 ERA with 56 strikeouts across {{fraction|52|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Sam Hentges 2023 pitching Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.ph/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/41225/year/2023/category/pitching|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=espn.com|language=en}}
Hentges began the 2024 campaign with Cleveland, compiling a 3.04 ERA with 27 strikeouts over 25 games. He was placed on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation on July 12, 2024,{{Cite web|title=Guardians' Sam Hentges: On IL with shoulder swelling|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-sam-hentges-on-il-with-shoulder-swelling/|access-date=August 19, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=July 12, 2024 |language=en}} and was transferred to the 60–day injured list on August 19.{{Cite web|title=Guardians Place Alex Cobb On Injured List|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/guardians-place-alex-cobb-on-injured-list.html|access-date=August 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 19, 2024 |language=en}} On September 10, it was announced that Hentges would require surgery to repair the labrum and capsule in his left shoulder, necessitating a recovery timetable of 12–14 months.{{Cite web|title=Sam Hentges Out 12 To 14 Months Due To Shoulder Surgery|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/guardians-sam-hentges-shoulder-surgery-12-14-months-labrum-capsule.html|access-date=September 13, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=September 10, 2024 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|mlb=656529|espn=41225|br=h/hentgsa01|fangraphs=18548|brm=hentge000sam|retro=H/Phents001}}
{{Cleveland Guardians roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hentges, Sam}}
Category:Akron RubberDucks players
Category:Arizona League Indians players
Category:Baseball players from Minnesota
Category:Cleveland Indians players
Category:Cleveland Guardians players
Category:Columbus Clippers players
Category:Lake County Captains players
Category:Lynchburg Hillcats players
Category:Mahoning Valley Scrappers players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers