After the White Sox went with polished college players with their two first round picks, they decided to swing for the fences by selecting 6’7” RHP Alec Hansen.
Entering his junior year Hansen was in the mix for the first overall pick in the 2016 draft thanks to an electric fastball, plus slider, average control and feel for an emerging changeup. Instead, Hansen’s year spiraled out of control and he went from staff ace to earning a demotion to the bullpen.
Hansen throws a 70 grade (20-80 scale) fastball that sits 94-97 and can hit 99 with running life. He also features a mid-80’s slider, a upper-70’s curveball, and even has flashed an average changeup at times. However, the reason he was available in the 2nd round his control went from effectively wild in 2015 to non-existent in 2016 as posted an ugly 7.0 BB/9 rate. He struggles to repeat his delivery (video here) and is often off balance with his gangly frame.
Despite his terrible year, Keith Law still ranked Hansen as the 34th overall prospect and noted that Hansen might be drafted by a “enterprising team hoping to buy low on a front-of-the rotation ceiling.” The White Sox did exactly that and with their strong track record of developing pitching they might be the perfect landing spot for the big right-hander.
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