Scout.com Player Profile
Position: 3B
DOB: 1/24/1981
Height:
6-2
Weight:
195
Bats: L
Throws: R
School: University of Portland
Became a
Cardinal: Selected in the ninth round of the June, 2002 First-Year Player Draft. Received a $62,500 signing bonus.
|
2005 |
AVG. |
AB |
Hits |
HR |
RBI |
R |
SB |
BB |
K |
OBP |
SLG. |
|
Springfield (AA) |
.284 |
546 |
155 |
20 |
97 |
82 |
2 |
54 |
99 |
.347 |
.458 |
|
Surprise (AFL) |
.261 |
92 |
24 |
1 |
8 |
19 |
0 |
6 |
17 |
.306 |
.359 |
|
United States |
.333 |
12 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
.385 |
.417 |
Staff Comments
JS (10): "Hanson, a recent addition to the Cardinals 40-man roster, will have a chance to earn a spot on the
Cardinals bench in spring training. Known mostly for his defense, he came back strong with the bat in 2005 after missing most of the 2004 season with a broken
ankle. He might begin the season at Memphis, but I think we will see Hanson in St. Louis at some point in 2006."
LM (9):
"Hanson had a very good “bounce-back” year after his devastating leg and ankle injury last year, going .284/.347/.458/.805, 155-for-546 in 137 games. He
led the team with 97 RBI’s and was second on the club in home runs with 20 and 82 runs scored. In fact Hanson set career high numbers in on-base percentage,
slugging, OPS, home runs, walks, RBI’s and hits (155). He did commit 36 errors while playing the hot corner but at least part of that can be attributed to his
mental uneasiness over his ankle. In fact he told a MLB journalist that it was not until mid-season that he was able to warm up without fear. Hanson turns 25
next season which should see him in Triple-A Memphis. While that is a bit old for “prospect” status, Hanson’s development is a bit delayed due his horrific 2004
injury. Baseball America ranked Hanson as the Cardinals’ seventh-best prospect."
RM (9):
"Hanson is one of my favorite players within the Cardinals organization. I told his family a couple of seasons ago that I thought he was good enough to
make it to the major leagues by 2007/08. Ranked by Baseball America at #18 before last season began, Hanson has moved up in their rankings, all the way to #7.
Hanson played shortstop in college and initially played third base in the pros. I have lobbied for Cardinals to move and keep him at second base, but he is
expected to start the season at third base for AAA Memphis. Considered by many as the best defensive infielder in the system, Hanson struggled with his defense
and footwork in 2005 because he was recovering from a broken ankle from the previous season. Travis recently played in the Arizona Fall League and for Team USA.
In addition, Hanson, 24, was recently named to the 2005 Topps/Minor League Baseball Double-A All-Star Team, which recognizes players with the best performances
at each minor league level. He is projected by some, to be a below average bat for a corner player. I’m not sure I agree with that, but, I still think second
base is his best position. Baseball HQ, recently projected him as a potential major league utility infielder and could arrive in the majors by 2007. I have a
little more faith and could see him at second base in 2007, which is a dumb projection considering he is expected to play at third next season, but I can't help
myself."
BW
(9): "Hanson put a severely broken leg behind him to register such a solid 2005 season that he was sent to the Arizona Fall League, named to Team USA
and added to the Cardinals’ 40-man roster. However, with third base locked up for a long time in St. Louis, I wonder if Hanson can mentally deal with playing
second base again. (He was injured on defense.) Surely, Hanson would project better at second as compared to third for the Cardinals or any other team for that matter."
STAFF
COMMENTS KEY: Staff Member (Individual Ranking); JS = Jason Scott; LM = Leonda Markee; BW = Brian Walton; RM = Ray Mileur; NR = Not Rated
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