Alen Hanson

Not to be confused with Alan Hansen or Allan Hansen.
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Hanson and the second or maternal family name is Michel.
Alen Hanson

Hanson with the West Virginia Power in 2012
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 37
Second baseman / Shortstop
Born: (1992-10-22) October 22, 1992
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 17, 2016, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .226
Hits 7
Home runs 0
Runs batted in 1
Teams

Alen Rery Hanson Michel (born October 22, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). A second baseman and shortstop, Hanson has been ranked as a top prospect by both MLB.com and Baseball America. Hanson made his MLB debut on May 17, 2016.

Professional career

On July 14, 2009, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Hanson as an international free agent for a $90,000.[1]

In 2010, Hanson played his first year of rookie-level Minor League Baseball as a member of the Gulf Coast League Pirates.[2] In the 68 games he played in 2010, Hanson hit .324 with 28 runs batted in, 7 triples, and 20 stolen bases.[2]

In 2011, Hanson again played for the GCL Pirates. In 52 games, Hanson hit .263 with 35 RBIs, 7 triples, and 24 stolen bases.[2] Hanson's 7 triples led the Gulf Coast League in 2011.[3]

In July 2012, Hanson was named the 40th-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America in their Midseason Top 50 Prospects List.[4] Hanson spent the 2012 season with the Pirates' Class A affiliate, the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League. Hanson had a strong season for the Power. He played 124 games and hit .309 with 16 home runs, 62 runs batted in, 13 triples, 39 stolen bases, 55 walks, and 99 runs scored.[2] He was named an All-Star.[5]

Prior to the 2013 season, Hanson was ranked as the 54th-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com,[6] and the 61st-best prospect by Baseball America.[7]

Hanson began the 2013 season with the High-A Bradenton Marauders. In 92 games with the Marauders, Hanson hit .281 with 7 home runs, 48 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases.[2] On July 28, Hanson was promoted to the Pirates' Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve.[8] In 35 games with the Curve during the 2013 season, Hanson hit .255 with 10 RBIs, 6 stolen bases, and just a single home run.[2] Hanson was added to the Pirates' 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.[9]

Hanson spent the entire 2014 season with the Curve. In 118 games, he hit .280 with 11 home runs, 64 runs batted in, 12 triples, and 25 stolen bases.[2] In August 2014, the Pirates announced that they would be moving Hanson, primarily a shortstop, to second base.[10] At the time of the announcement, Hanson had committed 61 errors in 227 games in 2013 and 2014.[10] Larry Broadway, the Pirates' Director of Minor League Operations, indicated that the move was to increase Hanson's versatility, saying, "we still believe he can play shortstop and believe he will play shortstop for us at some point in the future. Adding this dimension to his game will give him additional opportunity to impact our organization at the Major League level when he is ready."[10]

Hanson spent the entire 2015 season with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians. Hanson played 117 games for the Indians and hit .263 with 6 home runs, 43 runs batted in, and 12 triples.[2] Hanson also stole 35 bases, tying his personal best from 2012.[2]

Entering the 2016 season, MLB.com ranked Hanson as the 10th-best prospect in the Pirates organization,[11] and the 6th-best prospect amongst second basemen.[12]

Hanson began the 2016 season with the Indianapolis Indians.[13]

Pittsburgh Pirates

2016 season

On May 16, 2016, the Pirates promoted Hanson to the major league club after Starling Marte went on paternity leave.[13][14][15] Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said that Hanson would return to the minors when Marte returned.[13] Hurdle noted that Hanson would likely be recalled again later in the season, but still had yet to prove himself in Triple-A.[13] Hanson said that, when he called his mother to tell her the news, she accidentally hung up and celebrated, while Hanson waited in silence for nearly 10 minutes.[13]

On May 17, Hanson made his big league debut, striking out in a pinch-hit appearance.[16]

On May 18, Hanson recorded his first MLB hit. Entering the game in the 5th inning as a pinch hitter, Hanson reached base on an infield hit. Hanson said after the game that he planned to send the ball to his home in the Dominican Republic as a present for his mother.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Pirates prospect Alen Hanson convincing many he's big-league bound". Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Alen Hanson". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Gulf Coast League: 2011 Batting Leaders".
  4. ↑ "Midseason Top 50 Prospects List". July 5, 2012.
  5. ↑ Williams, Tim (August 30, 2012). "Polanco and Hanson Selected as 2012 SAL All-Stars".
  6. ↑ "Cole among four Bucs prospects in Top 100". Pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com. January 30, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Prospects: Rankings: Top 100 Prospects: 2013 Top 100 Prospects". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Alen Hanson Promoted To Altoona". Pirates Prospects. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Polanco among four added to 40-man roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 Williams, Tim (August 2, 2014). "Pirates Moving Alen Hanson to Second Base". Piratesprospects.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  11. ↑ "MLB.com 2016 Prospect Watch – Pittsburgh Pirates". MLB.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  12. ↑ "MLB.com 2016 Prospect Watch – Second Basemen". MLB.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Berry, Adam (May 17, 2016). "Bucs prospect Hanson gets long-awaited callup". Pirates.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Prospect Alen Hanson expected to be called up to join Pirates for first time". Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  15. ↑ "LF Marte goes on paternity list for Pirates". Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Joyce, Niese lead Pirates to 8–5 win over Braves". ESPN.com. May 17, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Pirates spoil Snitker's debut as manager, top Braves 12–9". ESPN.com. May 17, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016.

External links

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