Did the departure of Neil Walker crack open the door for Alen Hanson?
On Decemeber 9th, the Pittsburgh Pirates made an offseason splash by trading beloved second baseman Neil Walker to the New York Mets for starting pitcher Jon Niese. Walker was a star in Pittsburgh ever since he made his major league debut in 2009. Though the trade garnered mixed reactions among Pirates fans, it opens the door for other players to possibly take a shot at replacing the Pittsburgh native. The immediate option to replace Walker may be star utility man Josh Harrison, who has played 99 career games at second base. However, I believe that top prospect Alen Hanson may not be too far behind.
Hanson, who was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2009, is considered one of the best overall prospects within the Pirates organization. Last season, the 23-year old second baseman reached Triple-A Indianapolis, hitting .263 with six home runs, 43 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases in 117 games. He has good speed for a second baseman and his career .284 minor league batting average is also impressive. He is a very versatile player and has the ability to play second, shortstop, or third base. However, he seems to be more comfortable defensively at second base. In 370 career minor league games at shortstop, Hanson has committed 112 errors, while only committing 17 errors in 184 career games at second base.
The Pirates also have other options within their minor league system as well, including the reigning Pirates Minor League Player of the Year Max Moroff and fellow Altoona Curve teammate Adam Frazier. The talent level for these two players remains very high, as do the expectations. Moroff is more of a legitimate second baseman than Frazier, having played 217 more games than Frazier at the position. However, Frazier does have the talent to battle for the Pirates starting shortstop job within the next few years.
Though Josh Harrison could be the best option to immediately replace Walker as the everyday second baseman at the major league level, the injury to Jung Ho Kang and his progress from knee surgery may also remain a factor. If Kang is not ready for the beginning of the season, it may change things. Jordy Mercer would be the solidified starting shortstop, but with the retirement of Aramis Ramirez, the Pirates may have to depend on Harrison to fill that temporary void at third. This may open the door for Hanson to contribute at the major league level as well. Unlike Frazier and Moroff, Hanson spent last season at Triple-A. His game seems, at least to me, to be more developed, and he could make more of an immediate impact on the big league club, especially in Kang’s absence.
With the voids that the Pirates may need to consider filling, giving Hanson a chance to take over at second base may not be a terrible option. I’m not saying it will happen to start the season, but I do expect to see him make his major league debut in 2016 along with fellow prospects Tyler Glasnow and Josh Bell.
The Neil Walker trade definitely didn’t please a lot of fans in the city of Pittsburgh. He was the “Pittsburgh Kid” and a legitimate fan favorite. However, the deal opens the door for other possibilities. It creates an opportunity that Hanson may take and run with sooner rather than later.
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