Inside the evolution that turned Kyle Hendricks into the Cubs ace – The Athletic

John Hendricks made connections in Southern California through his outgoing nature, a love of baseball and his job running the San Juan Hills Golf Club. He would inevitably talk about his son, an unassuming pitcher who was easy to overlook on Orange Countys crowded baseball scene.

Kyle wasnt the star at Capistrano Valley High School, a program that produced a second-round pick in 2007 (Mike Watt) and a first-round pick in 2009 (Tyler Matzek). Instead of sitting on the bench at a bigger school, Kyle wanted to play immediately, so he went to Dartmouth after the Angels drafted him in the 39th round in 2008.

Kyle was invited to the prestigious Cape Cod League after his sophomore season at Dartmouth, but only as a temporary player at first, a designation that essentially means a tryout while the team waits for bigger prospects involved with Team USA or the College World Series.

Kyle wasnt a throw-in at the 2012 trade deadline, but Christian...

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Inside the evolution that turned Kyle Hendricks into the Cubs ace - The Athletic