With several big names in the White Sox farm system, it is easy to overlook some lesser-known names. But just because they are lesser-known, fans will regret overlooking them.
General manager Rick Hahn and company have been working to turn the tides on the struggling organization that was the White Sox. After a few moves, moving assets around for younger talent and drafting well, the White Sox have the potential to be a super team in the coming years.
But amongst the big names that have made their way in the White Sox farm system like Lucas Giolito, Yoan Moncada, and Michael Kopech stand some prospects that are also making a name for themselves, but are unfortunately looked over. Names that fans would regret looking over because in the coming years they are names that could very work themselves onto the 25 man roster.
Alec Hansen – RHP (White Sox: #4 ; MLB Top 100: #54)
Forty-ninth pick in the second round of the 2016 draft, former Oklahoma Sooners pitcher Alec Hansen had a rough going in the 2016 season. So rough, he pitched his way out of the rotation. Hansen, once seen as a early first-rounder, fell to the Sox late in the second round. Though I don’t know him, I’m sure he is no longer upset he dropped that much as he is fourth in one of the MLB’s top farm systems.
More from White Sox News
- The Chicago White Sox might have had a season ending loss
- The Chicago White Sox are expecting Tim Anderson back soon
- Miguel Cairo’s words spark life into the Chicago White Sox
- Dylan Cease should be the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award
- Ozzie Guillen speaks the whole truth about Tony La Russa
On the standard 20-80 rating system, Hansen’s top two pitches are his fastball, 70, and his curveball at 60. He also has been working on developing his slider and changeup, 55 and 50. The thing he needs to work on more would be his control. Control problems led to his Sooners demise. So it’s clear he would need to work on this as his development progresses.
Though he led the minors in strikeouts last year with 191 in 141 innings, he allowed 51 walks. He also threw 10 wild pitches.
He has the command in his above average fastball and curveball, as it shows in the 191 strikeouts. But his 3.2 walks per nine innings statistic shows he has not completely taken grasp of his control
As his numbers began to turn some heads, they looked away as names like Giolito, Kopech, and Reynaldo Lopez arrived. Despite this, Hansen has always been a White Sox top 30 prospect since his draft in 2016. He jumped from no.14 to no. 4 since then. Hansen has a place on the White Sox 25 man roster. We could be seeing his name called in the near future.