- Craig Hansen
-
Craig Hansen 
Relief pitcher Born: November 15, 1983
Glen Cove, New YorkBats: Right Throws: Right MLB debut September 19, 2005 for the Boston Red Sox Career statistics
(through 2009 season)Win-Loss 4-9 Earned run average 6.34 Strikeouts 70 Teams Craig Robert Hansen (born November 15, 1983 in Glen Cove, New York) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. A closer out of St. John's University, Hansen was drafted in 2005 and quickly made his major league debut, but has since spent most of his career at the Triple-A level. At 6-foot-5, Hansen reportedly can reach 97 to 98 miles per hour (158 km/h) and mixes in a hard slider.[1]
Contents
College career
Hansen's collegiate career began at St. John's in 2003 after selecting the school over Columbia, Yale and Hofstra.[2][3]
While he struggled during his freshman campaign in 2003, Hansen began to establish himself as a closer during his sophomore season in 2004. Hansen posted a 3-2 record with 14 saves in his junior season of 2005, registering 85 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched, a 1.68 ERA, and was named a first-team All-American by Baseball America.[4][5]
Pro career
With the 26th pick in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Hansen and signed him to a four-year deal valued at $4 million.[1] The Red Sox added him to the 40-man roster, assigning Hansen to a conditioning stint in Fort Myers before sending him to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. Hansen joined the Boston Red Sox as a late season call-up, making his major league debut on September 19 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Hansen struck out the first man he faced, pitching a perfect inning with two strikeouts, and would make three more appearances before the end of the season.[6]
After starting the 2006 season in Portland and Pawtucket, Hansen was recalled on June 6 by the Red Sox. On June 26, Hansen earned his first major league win in an extra-inning game against the Philadelphia Phillies. On August 20, Hansen entered a tie game against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning only to allow a game-winning home run to Jason Giambi and a two-run home run to Jorge Posada.[7] Hansen would end the season with a 6.63 ERA. During spring training for the 2007 season, manager Terry Francona suggested that the team may have rushed Hansen to the majors too quickly.[8]
Following the 2006 season, Hansen enrolled himself in a sleep study clinic after hearing complaints from family and roommates for years about his loud snoring. The results revealed that he suffered from severe sleep apnea, and it would manifest itself as fatigue and the inability to focus. Hansen informed the Red Sox, but he chose not to get the surgery to correct the condition because it would interfere with his preparation for the upcoming season. Hansen spent the entire 2007 season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, going 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA, and did not earn a promotion to Boston, who went on to win the World Series without him. Hansen also played in the developmental Arizona Fall League to get extra work in after missing some of the season with forearm tenderness.[9] During the off-season, Hansen underwent surgery in the hopes of correcting the sleep apnea condition that may have affected his stamina and pitching performance.[10]
Hansen reported to Red Sox spring training in 2008 and initial reports suggested that the team was impressed with his performance.[11]
On July 31, 2008, Hansen was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with Brandon Moss in a three-team deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Jason Bay to the Boston Red Sox.
On August 27, 2008, Hansen was optioned to AAA (Indianapolis Indians). This move was made after Hansen allowed four earned runs without recording an out against the Chicago Cubs the previous night.[12] Hansen was recalled to the Pirates on September 2.[13]
In 2009, Hansen was diagnosed with Parsonage-Turner syndrome, a rare condition causing pain, weakness, and numbness in the arms, shoulders, and upper back.[14] Recovery is usually complete, but can take as long as five years.[14] Hansen was able to pitch in a limited number of minor league games in 2010, but was not at full effectiveness, and the Pirates released him in early 2011.
References
- ^ a b Chris Snow (2005-07-25). "Rookie closer gets start on pro career". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/07/25/rookie_closer_gets_start_on_pro_career/. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Player Bio: Craig Hansen". St. John's University. http://redstormsports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/hansen_craig00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Craig Hansen Biography". Craig-Hansen.com. http://craig-hansen.com/biography.html. Retrieved 2008-03-21.[dead link]
- ^ "St. John's Pitcher Craig Hansen Earns First Team All-American Honors". St. John's University. 2005-06-15. http://redstormsports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/061605aaa.html. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Craig Hansen Statistics". The Baseball Cube. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/craig-hansen.shtml. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ Ian Browne (2005-09-20). "Notes: Hansen, Ramirez get the call: Red Sox's top prospects join club for stretch run". MLB.com. http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050919&content_id=1215948&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Boxscore - NY Yankees Vs. Boston Red Sox August 20, 2006". The Baseball Cube. 2006-08-20. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/box/2006/BOS200608200.shtml. Retrieved 2008-03-14.[dead link]
- ^ Dan Shaughnessy (2007-03-28). "Hansen, Delcarmen sent down: Snyder claims spot in bullpen". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2007/03/28/hansen_delcarmen_sent_down/. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ Amalie Benjamin (2007-09-19). "Muscle still missing from lineup: Fall ball for Hansen". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2007/09/19/muscle_still_missing_from_lineup/?page=2. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ Ian Browne (2008-02-12). "Refreshed Hansen bursting with energy: Young reliever feeling great following sleep apnea surgery". MLB.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080212&content_id=2371102&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos&partnered=rss_bos. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ Gordon Edes (2008-03-01). "Matsuzaka comfortable". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/03/01/matsuzaka_comfortable/. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Pirates send Hansen to minors". Sports Illustrated. 2008-08-27. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/08/27/hansen.pirates.ap/index.html?eref=si_mlb. Retrieved 2008-08-27.[dead link]
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Transactions: September 2008". MLB.com. 2008-09-02. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/index.jsp?c_id=pit&year=2008&month=9. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
- ^ a b Kovacevic, Dejan. "Pirates Notebook: Hansen's recovery uncertain", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 5, 2009.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Soxprospects.com Bio / statistics
Categories:- 1983 births
- Living people
- Boston Red Sox players
- Pittsburgh Pirates players
- Baseball players from New York
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- People from Glen Cove, New York
- St. John's Red Storm baseball players
- Gulf Coast Red Sox players
- Portland Sea Dogs players
- Pawtucket Red Sox players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- Bradenton Marauders players
- Altoona Curve players
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