Ajani
Henke

Ajani Henke, RHP, Home School (MO), 2023
Athletic delivery with a controlled tempo into leg-lift, fires down the mound with a drop/drive lower-half and athletic finish, high ¾ release with a loose arm. Fastball worked in the 87-89 mph range with life through the zone, spinning over 2400 RPM. Gradual 11/5 curveball played in the 66-69 mph range and paired with a gradual 10/4 slider at 70-72 mph. Also went to a straight change at 73-75 mph.  

Athletic delivery with a controlled tempo into leg-lift, fires down the mound with a drop/drive lower-half and athletic finish, high ¾ release with a loose arm. Fastball worked in the 87-89 mph range with life through the zone, spinning over 2400 RPM. Gradual 11/5 curveball played in the 66-69 mph range and paired with a gradual 10/4 slider at 70-72 mph. Also went to a straight change at 73-75 mph.  

After an impressive showing at the SLABA Scout Day, RHP/OF Ajani Henke (Home School, 2023) strung together another impressive all-around day in Columbia this past weekend. A strong, sturdy 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete, Henke kicked his day off by posting one of the event’s highest max exit speeds (94.6 mph) and generating some of the highest average bat speed (73.7 mph) we saw on the day, too. Henke uncorked an 86 mph max from the outfield and translated that arm strength to the mound, pumping his fastball at 85-87 mph with 20+ inches of induced vertical break on average. The biggest takeaway from Henke’s outing on the mound, however, was the confidence and ability he had to land a 67-71 mph breaking ball for strikes at any given count. His aptitude to spin it for strikes, coupled with a lively fastball that plays up in the zone, makes for a quality one-two punch for Henke on the hill.

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, high-front side, on-line finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top slot. Live
FB: T88.3, 84-88 mph. Lively out of the hand, finish through the zone, plays straight, occasional tilt. T2193, 1978 average rpm.
CB: 68-69 mph. 12/6 shape, depth, around the zone. T1524, 1373 average rpm.
SL: 70-71 mph. T1545, 1493 average rpm.
CH: 70-79 mph. Straight changeup, slows at times. T1850, 1606 average rpm.

RHP Ajani Henke (Home School, 2023) has been a winner on our fall circuit thus far and strung together yet another loud look over three innings of work. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Henke pumped his fastball up to 88.3 mph, pitching in the mid-80s with upper-quadrant life from a high release point (6.2 ft.) on average. He primarily featured a heavy dosage of fastballs, though occasionally spun a high-60s breaking ball as a change of pace pitch. Henke’s arm strength on the hill is evident and it appears he’s just starting to scratch the surface of what his future outlook may be.