Craig Hansen - Ones2Watch™ 2005 Minor League Baseball Players Awaiting the Call to Greatness - MLN Sports Zone

Craig Hansen - MLN Ones2Watch™

Craig Hansen will spend less time in the minor leagues than BigFoot spends on camera.

Life since June has been a blur for Hansen, just like the 96 mile-an-hour fastballs he blows past woefully overmatched hitters.

Still just months removed from his days at St. John's University, where his 92 m.p.h. slider made him a man among college boys, Hansen is on the verge of being the first member of the Class of 2005 June Draft to hit the big leagues, with the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox, no less.

Hansen, who was the Red Sox second pick behind center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury of OSU, was chosen in the first round (26th overall) by the Bosox.

If he moves any faster on the fast-track, NASA may have to classify him as a satellite and follow his orbit.

Player: Craig Hansen

Position: Pitcher (P)(RHP)

Height: 6-6
Weight: 210

Birthdate: 11.15.83
Birthplace:

Bats: R
Throws: R

College: St. John's University

Organization: Boston Red Sox

Acquired: 2005 Draft Boston Red Sox, 2nd Pick, 26th OA

Last Ballclub: Portland Sea Dogs

2005 FAB50 Ranking: NR

He's believed to be the only June draftee whose contract called for an immediate spot on the 40-man roster. Then again, With the post-season looming and the health of Boston closer Keith Foulke a continuing major question, Hansen, a gangly 6-5, 185 pound fire-baller has been getting a crash course on big league pitching since he scrawled his name on a $4 million dollar contract with the Sox in July.

"I feel like they're handling me really well," he said. "They're building me up in different situations, and I feel like it's going along really well. I'm throwing the ball really good. But the most important thing is that I'm going right after the hitters. Let them get themselves out, because I've got seven other guys behind me and one behind the dish who will help me out."

Hansen is oozing the confidence of a guy with a 0.00 ERA on 9 innings pitched. He's given up no earned runs, and he has 10 strikeouts and one walk on his record for the his short run with Portland.

Enthusiasm and an impressive, albeit brief, Double-A run aside, major league batting is another world away. Playing in the Boston bubble can also be merciless on a phenom prospect with high dollar value and even higher expectations.

He made two brief appearances with the Sox Gulf Coast League squad before making the jump to Double-A Portland, where he's made child's play out of Eastern League hitters.

In fact, after nine professional outings, Hansen had yet to give up an earned run, and had allowed just one walk (while striking out 14).

Hansen's calling card is his fastball, which has outstanding movement and routinely registers in the high 90's. But he is anything but a one-pitch wonder. If his fastball doesn't get you, then his slider will. Or maybe even his change-up. He's been a quick study in his brief time in the Sox chain.

"I dropped my curveball in college," he said, "and picked up the change up. But I really developed into a pitch this summer, when (Red Sox pitching coach) Dave Wallace taught me a different way to hold it. Ever since then, it's been working pretty well for me."

Now here's the bad news, for those who have appointments with Hansen in the batter's box to look forward to:

"It's not at the point I want it," he said. "I'm still working on it."

The Red Sox have placed Hansen in an interesting position: If he can handle the pressure, he'll not only become a major leaguer, he'll become a sensation.

A very few pitchers can handle the Show on such little development time. Chan Ho Park can testify to the career implosion that happens from being rushed along. If he makes the major league club and doesn't dominate this season, the Red Sox may spend the next season or three putting their four million dollar, 40-man phenom on track.

- Dan Hickling