Hendrickson Signs to AAA Space Cowboys
Kansas City, KS — 2025 Kansas City Monarchs left-handed starting pitcher, Josh Hendrickson signed with the Houston Astros AAA affiliate Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Friday, flew to Houston and then started on the mound Saturday afternoon in Game One of a double header against the Salt Lake Bees in on Saturday afternoon at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan, Utah.
The 28-year-old Perth, Australia native, pitched 5 innings of one hit baseball with no runs and six strike outs in a 2-1 Space Cowboys win.
9th year Manager Joe Calfapietra announced the signing and said “The entire Monarchs organization is so excited for Josh! He was a big part of our ball club in 2025 going 10-5. We all wish him much success with Sugar Land!” The signing comes just weeks before the Monarchs start Training Camp at Legends Field on May 2nd.
Hendrickson went 10-5 with a 3.61 Earned Run Average in 19 starts with the Monarchs in 2025. Before he was traded to the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League in late August. He pitched for the Adelaide Giants in the Australian Baseball League and represented Australia in the World Baseball Classic earlier this spring with winning his only start of the Classic.
Hendrickson was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft out of the Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas and later drafted in the 38th round in the 2019 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies after pitching for the University of San Diego.
The Kansas City Monarchs open their season on the road in Chicago against the Kane County Cougars on May 15th. Their home opener is set for Tuesday, May 19th at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas against the Chicago Dogs. Tickets for the 2026 season are on sale now.
About the Sugar Land Space Cowboys:
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, competing in the Pacific Coast League and playing at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. Rebranded in 2022 from the Skeeters, they won the Triple-A National Championship in 2024. They are owned by Diamond Baseball Holdings.
About the Kansas City Monarchs:
The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team in the American Association, an MLB Partner League. 2026 will be their 23rd season at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2020, the team partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and changed their name from the T-Bones to the Monarchs in honor of the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965.
