Josh Hendrickson’s path to the majors took plenty of turns before it finally landed him in Houston.
The former Phillies prospect, now 29, got his first big league shot with the Astros this week and made his MLB debut Wednesday night in Seattle against the Mariners. It was a long way from being a 38th-round pick in 2019, when Philadelphia signed him out of the University of San Diego for a $75,000 bonus.
That draft position told the story pretty clearly: Hendrickson was never viewed as a blue-chip arm. Still, he kept grinding through the Phillies’ system for five years, though only four seasons counted because the 2020 minor league year was wiped out by COVID-19. His time in the organization included brief stops at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2021 and 2023, but 2024 knocked him off course completely when Tommy John surgery ended his season before it started.
He worked his way back in 2025 with the Kansas City Monarchs of the independent American Association, putting together a 3.61 ERA over 19 starts. Then came a strong winter back home in Australia.
Pitching for the Adelaide Giants, who went on to win the Australian Baseball League title, Hendrickson logged 16 innings with a 2.25 ERA and 21 strikeouts in three outings. He also represented Australia in the most recent World Baseball Classic with Phillies farmhand Mitch Neunborn, throwing three innings of one-run ball in a 5-1 win over Czechia.
That stretch opened the door for another shot in affiliated baseball, this time with Houston. Hendrickson spent his entire minor league season with Triple-A Sugar Land, where he posted a 4.75 ERA across 113 ⅔ innings.
The Astros needed help. Their pitching staff has been hammered by injuries this season, with only two pitchers on the whole roster reaching the 100-inning mark, and both barely got there. Houston also had five pitchers on the injured list, which made room for a fresh arm.
Hendrickson got the call Wednesday, just five days after his 29th birthday. The promotion made him the 41st Australian player in MLB history, and the fourth Aussie to appear in a game this year, the most in a decade.
Later that night, he made the most of the moment. In two innings against Seattle, Hendrickson allowed one run, struck out three and threw 31 pitches. The Astros couldn’t finish the job, though, as the Mariners pulled out a walk-off win in extra innings.
For the Phillies, it’s only a footnote. For Hendrickson, it’s the payoff after years of injuries, detours and second chances.
In Other News...
Phillies Fans Are Livid And The Backlash Just Got Worse
The reaction around the Harry the Ks deck at Citizens Bank Park has only gotten louder since the Phillies moved to rename and sell the area to a corporate sponsor. What might have been a routine business decision quickly turned into a sore spot for fans, and the conversation spilled onto social media when Phillies supporters began directing their frustration at Dan Lourenco, the founder of Ghost Energy, even though the branding move was not directly initiated by his company.
Lourenco did respond to some of the criticism, but his later comments were taken by many fans as dismissive, which only deepened the backlash. For a fan base that is usually quick to defend the look and feel of its ballpark, the exchange has become about more than a deck sign, with the tone of the response now drawing as much heat as the rebrand itself. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Still Have One Major Game 1 Pitching Decision Left
The Phillies got the final-day push they needed to lock up a Wild Card spot, riding Zack Wheelers effort in a win over the Rays and setting the stage for a quick turnaround into October. With the postseason now here, the club is sorting through its Game 1 pitching plan, and the choice carries real weight because Philadelphia has already lined up Cristopher Sanchez for Game 2.
One possibility still on the table is a bullpen game that would lean on Jess Luzardo and Andrew Painter, while Aaron Nola is expected to take the ball on short rest. It is the kind of October decision that can shape an entire series, especially for a Phillies team that wants to get off to a strong start and avoid asking too much of its staff right away. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Rookies Just Made The Playoff Push Feel Bigger
The Phillies latest playoff push has also turned into a first taste of October for three young pitchers and hitters who have spent much of the season learning what it takes to stick. Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter and Alex McFarlane all found their way onto the postseason roster, a notable milestone for players who arrived with promise and then had to earn trust along the way. Crawford settled in after a midseason jump in performance and embraced his role, Painter sharpened his pitching after a minor league stint, and McFarlane emerged as a dependable bullpen option.
For a club built to chase a deep run, the rookie presence adds another layer to the story. These are not just extra bodies on the bench or in the bullpen, but players who helped the Phillies get here and now get to experience the postseason for the first time together. Their celebration reflected how much the moment meant, even if the bigger challenge is still ahead and the real test of what they can handle is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]