The White Sox Pitching Prospect You Really Need To Pay Attention To

It is no secret that the White Sox have an abundance of riches when it comes to elite prospects, specifically pitchers. Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Carson Fulmer, Zack Burdi, and Dane Dunning all have the talent needed to thrive at the MLB level. However, there is one pitcher specifically who has been putting up legitimate video game numbers in the minor leagues. That pitcher goes by the name of Alec Hansen. No no, not ALEN Hansen. He is a speedster who is currently playing a super-utility role for the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. ALEC Hansen is the White Sox 10th ranked prospect and is currently a member of the Winston-Salem Dash- the White Sox High-A affiliate. And what he is doing to apposing batters should be considered illegal. But before we dive into that, lets get to know the guy.

Who Is Alec Hansen?

Alec Hansen was taken in the 2nd round by the White Sox in the 2016 draft. A draft that also saw the team snag catcher Zack Collins and future closer Zack Burdi. Hansen had a legitimate chance to go no. 1 overall when his Junior year at Oklahoma got underway. However, he saw his control and command go haywire to the point where he slipped all the way out of the first round and right into the White Sox lap. So far, it looks like he could be the steal of that draft. When Hansen is on and able to locate his pitches, he is virtually unstoppable. He possesses 3 plus pitches, (fastball, slider, curveball) and also has an average changeup. His fastball sits at 93-97 but has hit 98. It also comes with a decent amount of run, making it even harder for hitters to catch up on. The slider sits in the mid-80's with late break, while his curveball is his 3rd best option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyEukxrhB-0&t=88s The first thing you might notice about this video is Hansen's size. He stands at a monstrous 6'7, giving the ball a higher release point out of his hand and more of a downward plane. In this video we see a decent array of pitches. He primarily uses his fastball here, and for good reason, as he consistently hit mid to upper 90's. There was also a few location issues that saw his draft stock slip, but for the most part, Hansen looked like the legitimately talented prospect he is. And with this being a college highlight video, it was before he started to make corrections to his delivery that saw him improve his command.

So How Is He Doing In The Minors?

Well, Hansen began the season in class low-A, and...well let's just say it was probably a bit boring for him. He finished with a record of 7-3 and a 2.48 ERA. With that, his K/BB ratio was 92/23 in 72.2 innings, and batters hit a measly .207 against him. Recently promoted to High-A, Hansen's first start followed his pattern of success in low-A. Although he left without a decision, he pitched 5 innings of 4 hit ball, with no runs allowed, and 5 K's. In short, A-ball does not seem too much of an issue for the kid.

When Can We Expect Him On The South Side?

Well on one hand, the White Sox are notorious for quickly developing their elite pitching prospects. See Carlos Rodon and Chris Sale. Alas, this year is obviously a different story, as there is zero rush to promote prospects of any level or position, and we should expect a similar script next season as well. If I had to guess, I would say he makes it up to Double-A before this season ends. He should start 2018 in Double-A, like Michael Kopech did this year. If he continues to improve his command, he should hit Triple-A by next seasons end and get an invite to Spring Training in 2019. I think the earliest Alec Hansen debuts on the South Side is at the beginning of the 2019 season, but at the latest he should be with the club before the All-Star break that same year.

Final Rotation?

When the White Sox have all of their pitchers developed and ready for the Majors, they should boast one of, if not the top pitching staff in the American League. Maybe in all of baseball. When it is all said and done, I think the White Sox rotation could/should look something like this (not including any potential trade that brings in more pitching prospects): Michael Kopech Carlos Rodon Alec Hansen Lucas Giolito Reynaldo Lopez In the end, I see Carson Fulmer coming out of the bullpen. His delivery is just too violent for his small body figure, and an extended workload could see him wear down quicker than the staff would like. The same could be said for Reynaldo Lopez, and it would not shock me to see Dunning sneak into the starting 5 with Lopez out of the bullpen as well. Either way, if you have Giolito and Lopez/Dunning as your 4 and 5 starters, you have to be feeling pretty good about the future of the staff. It is still too early to peg Alec Hansen as an "elite" prospect. Hell, he isn't even in the top 100. But if he keeps up the pace he is currently on, that should change sooner rather than later. And with the White Sox track record of developing pitchers, it is safe to say that he is in good hands.