Logan Henderson excelled in his MLB debut, striking out nine batters over five shutout innings, helping the Brewers defeat the Athletics 14-1. His performance included eight empty swings in the first inning and demonstrated his effectiveness with a two-pitch combo of a fastball and changeup, even incorporating a cutter with promising results. With this outing, he became the first pitcher in Brewers history to win his first three games and recorded 23 strikeouts in just three appearances, trailing only Freddy Peralta in franchise history. The Brewers also showcased power with three home runs in their victory over the Orioles.
Logan Henderson reflects on his impressive 9K MLB debut surrounded by loved ones.
Logan Henderson shared his experience after striking out nine during his MLB debut as the Brewers defeated the Oakland Athletics 14-1 on April 20, 2025, at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
Ignore the numbers on the scoreboard when Logan Henderson is on the mound. Instead, focus on the swings coming from the batter’s box, as Sal Frelick suggests.
In his first at-bat on May 20, Jackson Holliday missed low-90s fastballs in the strike zone and then swung and missed at a changeup for strike three. Adley Rutschman followed closely behind, succumbing to Henderson as he recorded eight swings and misses in the first inning alone.
Heston Kjerstad returned to the dugout the next inning, yet another victim of a fastball that was perfectly placed down the middle.
Later, Ramon Laureano and Cedric Mullins faced the same fate against Henderson’s heat. They might as well have taken a seat.
The feedback gained from the awkward swings and misses against Henderson in his first three outings suggests the Milwaukee Brewers might have found a reliable pitcher for the remainder of the season and beyond, even with just two primary pitches in his arsenal.
“It may not show on the scoreboard, but that’s why he’s here – it’s tough to hit,” Frelick remarked. “There’s something special about him. Whether a pitcher throws 88 or 100, facing him is a difficult challenge. He has great stuff and he’s proving it.”
BOX SCORE: Brewers 5, Orioles 2
Henderson demonstrated his prowess over five shutout innings, complemented by three home runs from an offense that had been lacking power, leading the Brewers to their third consecutive victory with a score of 5-2 against the Baltimore Orioles on May 20 at American Family Field.
Brice Turang, Frelick, and Rhys Hoskins invigorated the offense with home runs – a feat the Brewers hadn’t achieved in six days – while Henderson continued his stellar performance on the mound.
The right-hander recorded seven strikeouts, making him only the ninth pitcher since 1901 to strike out seven or more batters in each of his first three career starts.
“No doubt about it, this kid has been fantastic every outing,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy. “Not just good – outstanding. He’s shown great performance every time he steps on the mound.”
Logan Henderson Makes History
Additionally, Henderson set a franchise record by becoming the first pitcher to win in each of his first three career appearances. His 23 strikeouts over these three games are the second-highest in Brewers history, surpassing only Freddy Peralta’s 25 in 2018.
Henderson excelled with his two main pitches: a four-seam fastball and changeup. However, a promising sign from his latest outing was the successful use of a third pitch, his cutter. Out of his career-high 20 whiffs, 17 came from fastballs and changeups, with three misses coming from just nine cutters thrown. Previously, he had only thrown eight cutters across his first two starts, yielding no whiffs.
“William called for it a few times in the fourth or fifth inning, and it resulted in some swings and misses,” Henderson noted. “I feel confident about it. It was the perfect moment to use it, backdoor to lefties. Being able to execute a pitch I don’t often throw felt great.”
Initially brought up for a spot start on April 20 against the Athletics, Henderson earned another opportunity to pitch against the Orioles his last time out a week ago. Now he is extending his time in Milwaukee even further.
“There’s so much to absorb,” Henderson expressed. “I’ve gained a lot by observing the game from the dugout and engaging with these players. It’s crucial to remember that hitting is tough, and if you approach the strike zone aggressively, you have a good chance of succeeding.”
Rhys Hoskins Provides Insurance
Rhys Hoskins, the most reliable bat for the Brewers this season, continued to shine by contributing additional runs.
The Brewers first baseman extended the lead with a solo home run to start the bottom of the eighth against Orioles closer Felix Bautista, increasing the advantage from one to two. It marked the Brewers’ third homer of the night and Hoskins’ sixth of the season, along with an earlier double that brought his average to .297 and OPS to .885.
Later in the inning, the lead became 5-2 when the Orioles’ second baseman made a high throw to first on a Joey Ortiz grounder, allowing Frelick to score from second as the ball ricocheted off the Brewers’ dugout. The play was recorded as a single for Ortiz, marking his first hit in six days, resulting from an error by Holliday.
Bullpen Decision Backfires in the Seventh
With two outs and a runner on third in the seventh inning, Brewers manager Pat Murphy faced a crucial decision: should he bring in right-hander Joel Payamps to replace lefty Tyler Alexander, knowing the Orioles had a lineup of left-handed batters coming up?
Murphy opted for Payamps, despite the tying run being on deck – a lefty, Jackson Holliday. This decision backfired when Urias hit a single to score a run, followed by Holliday tripling off the fence in left-center, taking the score to 3-2 in favor of Milwaukee.
Payamps nonetheless responded effectively, getting Adley Rutschman to fly out to center, ending the inning.
Sal Frelick Extends the Lead
Though he didn’t spike his helmet as he did last week, Sal Frelick connected for a home run to support Logan Henderson for the second consecutive game.
With one out in the fourth inning, Frelick launched a two-run homer into the right-field bleachers, tying his career high with his third home run this season. This was the Brewers’ second home run of the game after a four-game drought, extending their lead to 3-0.
Frelick credited the previous batters in the inning for putting him in a position to capitalize. Hoskins opened with a hustle double on a play where Orioles right fielder Ramon Laureano injured his knee, advancing to third on an Isaac Collins ground ball.
With the infield pulled in, Frelick had numerous options to take on Baltimore right-hander Chayce McDermott successfully.
“I feel like I’m swinging well,” Frelick stated. “The home run swing developed from how that entire inning unfolded, thanks to the guys preceding me. Rhys hustling on a pop-up to reach second. Isaac moving him over really allowed me to approach the at-bat without cheating, just focusing on hitting a fly ball where I typically don’t aim.”
“I owe it to the other hitters in the lineup.”
Brice Turang Hits a Home Run
After battling a severe illness earlier in May, Brice Turang has begun to return to form, showcasing his ability to connect with the ball like he did at the beginning of the season. With one out in the third inning, Turang crushed a solo home run 409 feet at 107 mph off the bat to left-center. This marked his first home run in over a month, with the last one hit on April 8 in Colorado.
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Orioles lineup
- Jackson Holliday 2B
- Adley Rutschman C
- Gunnar Henderson
- Ramon Laureano RF
- Ryan O’Hearn DH
- Ryan Mountcastle 1B
- Cedric Mullins CF
- Heston Kjerstad LF
- Ramon Urias 3B
Brewers lineup
- Brice Turang 2B
- Jackson Chourio CF
- William Contreras C
- Christian Yelich DH
- Rhys Hoskins 1B
- Isaac Collins LF
- Sal Frelick RF
- Caleb Durbin 3B
- Joey Ortiz SS
Brewers schedule
Brewers vs. Orioles, 12:10 p.m. May 21. Milwaukee RHP Chad Patrick (2-4, 3.35) vs. Baltimore RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 3.08). TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.