7. Alec Hansen, RHP
Birthdate: 10/10/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, low A
Stats in 2016: 54 2/3 IP, 1.32 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 9.71 BB%, 39.32 K%
When we all look back at the 2016 draft, this is the guy who could look like the easy “steal” in the draft. Hansen was considered as one of the top 2-3 picks of the draft coming into the spring season for Oklahoma when his tall mechanics got out of whack, and he lost his rotation spot for Oklahoma before working his way back into the Sooner rotation. By then, many teams had dropped Hansen significantly on their list.
Hansen is a huge guy, standing 6’7 and 235 pounds listed. Many guys once you get past 6’5-6’6 have trouble with their mechanics getting off due to long arms and legs getting out of whack, and that’s exactly what happened with Hansen.
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Hansen works with a fastball that can flirt with triple digits, a slider that can break two planes, and a hard curve that works well for generating weak contact. His change as a pro even showed very well, flashing fringe-plus and certainly appearing as above-average.
This past spring is certainly something the White Sox will have to keep in mind as they move Hansen up the system, spending extra time keeping Hansen’s mechanics in line as he works his way up the system.
So far, however, he may be one of the most impressive performances from the 2016 draft, and I had a very difficult time picking him #3 instead of #2.
Next: #6