More than anything—more than statistics, body types and backgrounds—scouts love “tools.”

A “five-tool” guy—look at the Guerreros, the Joneses, the Edmonds of the world—is in a different league from his peers. Hit for average, hit for power, speed, defense, throwing arm. A scout’s dream.

Having five tools is one thing. Being able to pitch is another.

“We kind of like that versatility in ballplayers,” Walsh says.

Salsgiver and Hendricks both came to Harvard knowing they would get plenty of time on the mound. For Hendricks, who led Houston-area pitchers in strikeouts and compiled a 10-2 record his senior year at Spring, that was a given.

The 6’2 righthander always thought he’d go to college to pitch—the pro scouts had different ideas.

“Out of high school…I probably would’ve gotten drafted in the middle rounds as a pitcher,” he says.

That perception changed during his senior year. After committing to Harvard, he had the best offensive spring of his high school career, attracting the attention of schools such as nearby Rice, the 2003 NCAA National Champs. But he chose Walsh and the Crimson with the understanding that he would play his freshman year—on the mound and in the field.

“I made sure I could do both before I came,” he says.

The results have been stellar. Last year, Hendricks led Harvard starting pitchers in ERA (2.86) while leading the team in batting. His five home runs were more than he gave up (one). And even though he batted third in the order, his strikeout-to-walk ratio as a pitcher (37-to-5) was even more impressive than that as a batter (15 to 8).

This year, Hendricks experienced a rocky start on the mound. Against Texas Tech on March 6th, he was pummeled for 11 hits and 8 earned runs before being lifted in the second inning. But the right-hander rebounded to pick up a win and a save—both coming against Michigan—on the team’s second road trip, looking like the ace he expects to be.

Not that the scouts care. In a startling reversal from four years ago, the switch hitter will likely be drafted this June for his bat.

“Pretty much all the teams I’ve talked to are interested in me as a hitter,” he says.

Salsgiver, on the other hand, tells a story that’s qualitatively different from Hendricks’. The righthander left Davison with a 1.36 career ERA—tied for the ninth best all-time in Michigan high school history—but arrived at Harvard with arm trouble.

“To be honest with you,” Walsh says, “I think he was overused in high school.”