Shreveport – Taylor Henry, one of the most decorated players in Centenary baseball history, has joined the staff as an assistant coach, head coach Mike Diaz announced.
Henry, a Bossier City native and Airline high school product who played for the Gents from 2012-15, was a 21st round draft pick of the New York Mets in 2015. The left-handed ace was named a second team All-American in 2015 and the West Region Pitcher of the Year, both by D3Baseball.com. Henry was also named to the West Region First Team by ABCA/Rawlings. He helped lead the Gents to a pair of Southern Collegiate Athletic regular season championships in 2013 and 2015.
"I'm really excited to get Taylor on board as our head assistant," said Centenary head coach Mike Diaz. "He was one of the best Pitchers in Centenary baseball history having won two conference championships, being named a second-team All-American, and being selected in the 21st round of the 2015 draft by the Mets."
"The big thing about Taylor is he has always been our hardest worker and a team-first guy. When you can get really talented guys who are your best players to do those two things it usually leads to championship caliber teams. Taylor was part of a group of recruits who really raised the profile of Centenary baseball and have been instrumental in building the championship culture of our program. As a coach I have seen the same attributes that made him a great player and that is why our players have gravitated towards him as a coach."
He was also named the SCAC Pitcher of the Year as a senior and named First Team All-SCAC. His 17 career saves are the most in program history and his nine in 2015 are the most in a single season in history. Henry recorded 18 wins in his career which ranks third all-time in history and he also boasts the best single-season ERA (1.59) in program history in 2015 in 62.1 inning pitched. Henry struck out 14 batters in a single game which is a single-game program record and also holds the record for second-most with 13 that same season.
"I'm thrilled to be back in the program and am excited to get to work with all the new faces and continue to develop guys I worked with in the past as it will be a lot of fun," said Henry.
