The number of Pittsburgh Pirates prospects on MLBPipeline’s top ten list of prospects at each position continues to grow. Today, top Pirates prospect Alen Hanson was named to MLB Pipeline’s top ten list of second base prospects, coming in at number six on a list that includes Boston Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada at number one and Chicago Cubs 2015 first round pick Ian Happ at number three.
Hanson was originally signed by the Pirates as a 17-year old out of the Dominican Republic in 2009. The young second baseman has been with the organization ever since, climbing through the minor league ranks. Hanson spent the entire 2015 season at Class AAA Indianapolis, hitting .263 with six home runs and 43 RBIs in 117 games. He also compiled 125 hits, 17 doubles, and finished second in the International League with 12 triples. He has also shown a strong presence on the base paths, swiping 169 bases throughout his six-year minor league career.
As I stated in my previous article regarding Hanson, the 23-year old has a good opportunity to play at the Major League level in 2016. His offensive upside, defensive ability, and speed are tough to ignore, but he also has a high strikeout rate and some character issues that the organization may want him to work on in the minors. However, despite these small issues, the unknown return date of Jung Ho Kang from knee surgery may create an opening for the young prospect.
The Pirates minor league system is very deep and contains an abundance of young, developing talent. Hanson is just the latest Pirates prospect to make the top ten list within their specific position. Joining Hanson were Tyler Glasnow (second among RHP), Josh Bell (second among first baseman), Reese McGuire (fourth among catchers), and Elias Diaz (sixth amongst catchers). For a further breakdown on Hanson, check out my analysis on him here.
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