Alen Hanson
The Case for a Roster Spot:
Alen Hanson is out of minor league options. It’s the elephant in the room whenever it comes to whether or not he will be on the Opening Day roster. His three outfield assists this spring have been quite impressive. Alen Hanson is finally showing his versatility, and he could serve as a fourth outfielder option until Austin Meadows is ready later in 2017. He has committed just one error at third base over the last two seasons at the position in 169 innings, which would be of use to serve as a backup to David Freese should he make the team. Hanson has also been extremely patient at the plate this spring, striking out just four times in 40 at-bats.
[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]2017 Spring Training Stats:AVG: .375
SB/CS: 3/3
K%: 10%
OF Assists: 3[/perfectpullquote]
The Case against a Roster Spot:
The Pittsburgh Pirates have essentially zero power off the bench as it is, and Hanson would do nothing to change that. In 2012 with the West Virginia Power, Hanson hit a career high 16 home runs. In 2014 with the Altoona Curve, he hit 11 home runs. They are the outliers. It is highly unlikely Hanson ever consistently hits double digits in the majors. He has always impressed in spring training at the plate, but he has never really managed to consistently follow-up during the regular season.
The Breakdown:
Hanson probably won’t be able to repeat his defensive prowess with consistency during the regular season, but the Pirates have few options left on how to handle him. With no options, they can trade Hanson, try to pass him through revocable waivers, or keep him on the 25-man roster.
Who do you feel would be the best candidates for the final two spots on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bench? Let your voice be heard in the comments or contact us on Twitter or Facebook.
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