You have to live in Alabama to really get an understanding. Every place you go to on a Saturday is Auburn or Alabama depending on what time each team is playing. It's hard to convey the level of ridiculousness.
There are two questions everyone asks here the first time they meet you and both answers will determine if the person will have anything to do with you
1. What church do you go to? If you answer wrong to that one it may be okay to continue the conversation
2. Who do you "pull for" (that's how they talk down here)? If you answer wrong to this question the conversation is over.
Maybe talent is the wrong word. He's more mobile, faster, is a better improviser, and has a better arm. If he can stay healthy and they have the right guys around him the sky is the limit.
I suppose it depends on what one considers to be "well regarded". His rise through the ranks including being named the Cubs minor league pitcher of the year speaks volumes about throwing strikes in the minors. I wish the Cubs would work on that first before they do all the fancy pants horsefeathers with pitch shapes and spin rates in "the lab".
I don't know if this story is true or not. I thought Hendricks was pretty highly thought of at the time. They had three pitching prospects at the time and they had some initials for them but I can't remember.