Derek Henderson loved to play, saw 15 seasons, made AAA
Knoxville's Derek Henderson had a good night at the plate in this May 1992 game, including hitting a rare home run, The Knoxville News-Sentinel wrote.
In his fourth season as a pro and at AA, Henderson told The News-Sentinel he hoped to continue improving.
"I want to come into my own this year," Henderson told The News-Sentinel. "The previous years in (Class) A ball were for maturing. I love to play baseball and like to play it a while longer."
Henderson did play baseball a while longer - a total of 15 seasons. The final nine of those seasons, however, came in independent ball. He topped out at AAA.
Henderson's career began in 1989, taken by the Mets in the 8th round of the draft out of Tennessee State University.
At Tennessee State in late March 1989 and through 11 games, Henderson earned the title of the then top collegiate hitter with a .571 average, The Nashville Tennessean wrote.
"The pro scouts like him a lot," Henderson's Tennessee State coach Allen Robinson told The Tennessean. "He's a tall, rangy kid, which is what they like to have"
Henderson started with the Mets at short-season Pittsfield. He saw 47 games and hit .263. He then moved to high-A St. Lucie for 1990 and 1991. He hit .207 and .241.
He moved to the Blue Jays in 1992 and made AA Knoxville in 1992, seeing 127 games there. He hit .252. He also saw seven games at AAA Syracuse, where he went 2 for 14.
Henderson saw and abbreviated 1993, 27 games between Syracuse and Knoxville. He then saw eight games at Knoxville in 1994 before asking for and receiving his release. He played 29 more games that year at high-A High Desert.
He's not credited as playing in 1995, but returned to the field with independent Tyler in 1996. He saw 92 games and hit .310.
That August, he picked up five hits in a game, one a two-run single, The Tyler Morning Telegraph wrote.
"I haven't even had a four-hit night all year," Henderson told The Telegraph. "I'm grateful for the opportunity - it's about time I had a game like this."
Henderson returned to Tyler for 1997, then moved to independent Amarillo for 1998. He stayed in Amarillo for five seasons. He played 2003 at independent Edinburg and 2004 at independent Shreveport to end his career.
- Nashville Tennessean, March 31, 1989: Tennessee State's Henderson nation's top collegiate hitter
- Knoxville News-Sentinel, May 10, 1992: Henderson comes alive, carries K-Jays to third win in row
- Tyler Morning Telegraph, Aug. 19, 1996: Henderson's Five Hits Power 'Catters To Win
Made the Majors:1,474-31.7%
Never Made Majors:3,170-68.3%-X