August 18, 20169 yr http://m.mlb.com/news/article/196314020/pi...picid=151437456 A right-hander, Hansen entered the 2016 season as a candidate to go No. 1 overall in the Draft, but those chances disappeared when he couldn't find the strike zone and pitched himself out of Oklahoma's rotation. Though he went 3-5 with a 5.40 ERA with 39 walks in 51 2/3 innings, his pure stuff still was impressive enough for the White Sox to take him in the second round and sign him for $1.2 million. Chicago decided to keep things simple for Hansen in his introduction to pro ball, having him focus on staying taller in his delivery and getting the ball out of his glove more quickly. Those changes have helped him produce video-game numbers between two Rookie leagues: 1.19 ERA, 57/13 K/BB ratio, .100 opponent average in 37 2/3 innings. He can sit in the mid 90s with his fastball and wipe out hitters with his slider, so if Hansen can keep throwing strikes like this, he could be a steal for the White Sox.
August 18, 20169 yr QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 18, 2016 -> 03:36 PM) http://m.mlb.com/news/article/196314020/pi...picid=151437456 Not surprised at all at the "staying tall" aspect, pitchers (and pitching coaches) I've talked to in the organization repeat that phrase ad naseum. I'd like to look at some video for the glove thing, I wonder how big a difference that is.
August 19, 20169 yr I was intrigued by this pick when it happened... textbook definition of "high risk high reward." I'm ecstatic to see it working out so far... possibly a steal indeed.
August 19, 20169 yr QUOTE (DirtySox @ Aug 18, 2016 -> 09:58 PM) Callis. Maybe it's his French cousin.
August 19, 20169 yr Who knows. Kerry Wood used to walk everybody. No one seems to hit Hansen at all even when he was demoted in college. I would suspect that to continue as he goes up the chain. Just have enough command to eat some innings. Edited August 19, 20169 yr by Dick Allen
August 21, 20169 yr http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/al/chicag...ng-consistency/ Good stuff about Hansen here.
August 21, 20169 yr Author Also very interesting to see the talk with Zaleski. The Sox obviously like him to keep him as a pitcher as long as they did. I wouldn't be shocked to see him as a quick mover as a pitching coach as well.
August 21, 20169 yr It's great that Hansen is putting up these numbers, but remember what Spencer Adams did right out of high school as a rookie? 59 K, 4 BB in 41.2 IP. Granted he gave up 49 hits, but we were very impressed with that until the hits stayed the same and the strikeouts fell off a cliff. Hansen isn't giving up hits, but the walks probably jump up as he moves up the levels and that could be a problem. In short, it's rookie ball so who knows.
August 21, 20169 yr Author QUOTE (danman31 @ Aug 21, 2016 -> 05:20 PM) It's great that Hansen is putting up these numbers, but remember what Spencer Adams did right out of high school as a rookie? 59 K, 4 BB in 41.2 IP. Granted he gave up 49 hits, but we were very impressed with that until the hits stayed the same and the strikeouts fell off a cliff. Hansen isn't giving up hits, but the walks probably jump up as he moves up the levels and that could be a problem. In short, it's rookie ball so who knows. I think the big difference is that Adams numbers didn't change a ton when he got into the minors. Hansen, besides having 1-1 stuff, which Adams never did, has done a complete 180 since we signed him.
August 21, 20169 yr QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 21, 2016 -> 06:07 PM) I think the big difference is that Adams numbers didn't change a ton when he got into the minors. Hansen, besides having 1-1 stuff, which Adams never did, has done a complete 180 since we signed him. Adams was also straight out of high school while Hansen had three years of college.
August 21, 20169 yr Author QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Aug 21, 2016 -> 06:13 PM) Adams was also straight out of high school while Hansen had three years of college. Outside of Burdi and Sale, I don't think anyone in the system has an arm like Hansen. There is no reason to not get excited about the improvements he has made so far.
August 21, 20169 yr QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 21, 2016 -> 06:16 PM) Outside of Burdi and Sale, I don't think anyone in the system has an arm like Hansen. There is no reason to not get excited about the improvements he has made so far. I temper my excitement with anything related to Rookie Ball. But, there's no doubt, he's got an elite arm and appears to be harnessing it.
August 21, 20169 yr Hansen was once thought of as a 1-1 guy. He's succeeding at a level that he's too good for, but he is succeeding, so no reason not to be optimistic. The easy thing to do with every prospect is wait until they're dominating at AA, but that's no fun. Edited August 21, 20169 yr by flavum
August 22, 20169 yr Author Hansen is starting to get a decent amount of attention from national writers too. It is almost a shame that the short season is coming to an end for him.
August 22, 20169 yr Author Rob Young @RobertHYoung 3h3 hours ago What else can I say about #WhiteSox Alec Hansen? The dude has a 1.03 ERA, 2.9 H/9 and 14.5 K/9. Hitters are averaging .094 against him
August 22, 20169 yr If everything goes well I'll assume Hansen finishes the year out in GF, attends fall instructs, and starts the year in W-S. He may be on the South Side by late 2018/2019 realistically...And if Sale/Q stick around: Sale, Q, Rodon, Fulmer, and Hansen make for a VERY nasty rotation
August 22, 20169 yr If some HS pitcher was mowing zit faced kids who will never be drafted, down like this, he would definitely be noticed. The fact that is guy is doing it to professionals, albeit low level pros, adds to the intrigue. It will be interesting to watch him develop or not develop. Right now the pick is looking pretty genius.
August 22, 20169 yr Author I also think a case like Hansen is much more compelling because the thing that got everyone's attention to Hansen is his arm gives him the potential to be a #1 starter. When a guy like Andy Wilkens puts up huge minor league numbers, it is much easier to scoff because his tools don't fit those kind of numbers translating to the majors. Alec Hansen has this kind of arm if he can keep this sort of control. Does this mean that this type of Hansen will continue? Well, who knows. We can't say it for sure. But what we can say is that Hansen is one of the very few guys around who can justify this type of excitement.
August 22, 20169 yr Sam Panayotovich @spshoot 8m8 minutes ago White Sox are promoting pitcher Alec Hansen after seven dominant starts in Great Falls. He's expected to join Kannapolis tomorrow. https://twitter.com/spshoot/status/767825307789357056
August 22, 20169 yr QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 21, 2016 -> 06:16 PM) Outside of Burdi and Sale, I don't think anyone in the system has an arm like Hansen. There is no reason to not get excited about the improvements he has made so far. He's in rookie ball pal. Let's see him do this in the high minors.
August 22, 20169 yr Author QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ Aug 22, 2016 -> 06:03 PM) He's in rookie ball pal. Let's see him do this in the high minors. Boy, I have never heard that one before... It sure hasn't been discussed already in this thread.
August 23, 20169 yr QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ Aug 22, 2016 -> 06:03 PM) He's in rookie ball pal. Let's see him do this in the high minors. Dude he made them look like they were swinging toothpicks up there. This is a guy worth getting excited about. Toothpicks brah
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