From LSU to The Show: Cole Henry’s Journey of Grit, Growth, and Getting Healthy

On yesterday’s episode of Up and In Daily, I had the chance to sit down with someone who embodies resilience and determination—Washington Nationals pitcher and LSU alum, Cole Henry.

Born and raised in Alabama, Cole grew up rooting for Auburn but spent his formative baseball years in Louisiana. Playing travel ball with the Louisiana Knights, he built friendships with future Tigers and developed a love for the LSU program that made Baton Rouge feel like home. When the chance came to wear purple and gold, it wasn’t just an offer—it was a dream.

Cole earned a spot in LSU’s starting rotation as a freshman and showed elite stuff on the mound. But his sophomore season was cut short due to the COVID-19 shutdown, limiting him to just a few starts. Despite the shortened year, the Washington Nationals saw enough to draft him 55th overall in the 2020 MLB Draft.

But Henry’s professional path wasn’t smooth.

For years, he battled persistent elbow pain—MRIs kept coming back clean, yet the discomfort lingered. Eventually, doctors diagnosed him with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), a lesser-known but increasingly common condition in pitchers. The syndrome affects nerves and blood vessels between the collarbone and first rib, often causing arm fatigue, numbness, or pain that mimics other injuries.

He underwent surgery in 2022 to correct it, and according to Cole, it was a turning point—his elbow pain vanished.

Learn more about TOS and its impact on pitchers: Mayo Clinic Overview

Medical perspective on TOS in baseball: Baseball Prospectus Article

This past spring, he made another transition—this time from starting pitcher to reliever. Mentally, it was tough. But with the support of teammates like Jackson Rutledge and a growing sense of confidence, he adapted quickly.

The results speak for themselves: Cole dominated in Triple-A, got the call-up, and made his MLB debut in April.

Since then, he’s made eight big league appearances—seven scoreless.

His lone rough outing came against a lineup that featured Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso.

He mentioned he kind of had his welcome to the big leagues moment and laughed.

So I mentioned if he was gonna give up five runs, might as well do it against three future Hall of Famers.

We both chuckled, but it was a perfect example of perspective.

One bad outing can skew a reliever’s ERA, but the body of work shows he belongs.

Now, Cole is carving out a place in the Nationals’ bullpen, sharing a clubhouse with Dylan Crews and proudly representing LSU at the highest level. His story is one of perseverance, humility, and belief—and I’m excited to watch him continue to grow in this next chapter.

Cole Henry is a name LSU fans should remember. Not just for what he did in college, overcoming injuries, and even his career adversity—but for what he’s doing now and will continue to do throughout his career.