Australian southpaw Josh Hendrickson will join the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association for the 2025 season.
Hendrickson, 27, was born in Perth, Australia. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 38th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of San Diego. He would make his organizational debut that same year, pitching in 16 games and making four starts between rookie ball and the Phillies Low-A affiliate. He would play with the Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League that winter, where in five games and four starts, he went 1-2, posting a 1.93 ERA, striking out 28 batters, and only surrendered two walks in 18.2 innings pitched.
His best season in the minor leagues was in 2021, where Hendrickson was able to jump across three levels, ending the year with the Phillies Triple-A affiliate. Across three levels in 2021, Hendrickson went 4-5, posting a 3.57 ERA in 21 appearances and 14 starts, striking out 93 batters in 95.2 innings of work. He would miss some time in 2022, only making 10 starts across three levels, while in 2023, Hendrickson transitioned to starting pitching. He would make most of his starts at the Double-A level, going 2-9, with a 5.42 ERA in 21 starts, only picking up 77 strikeouts in 98 innings pitched. He did appear in three games at the Triple-A level, recording a 7.20 ERA in 10 innings, walking eight batters, and striking out 14.
Hendrickson didn’t pitch anywhere during the 2024 season, but now he will join fellow Australians Rixon Wingrove and Robbie Glendinning, who all signed with the Monarchs earlier in the season. It will be fascinating to watch Hendrickson return to the mound, hoping that it could result in him finding his way into an MLB organization during the 2025 season.
