Alec Hansen Misses Oklahoma Fall Series

Oklahoma righthander Alec Hansen, one of the nation’s top college pitchers and a potential No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, was held out of the Sooners’ Fall Series.

Sooners coach Pete Hughes said via text message that Hansen, a junior out of Mountain West High in Loveland, Colo., was held out to rest a sore forearm. “All precautionary,” Hughes said via text. “(We) didn’t have enough time in the fall to ramp him back up to pitch live in the (World Series).”

Hansen pitched briefly during the fall workouts, but was then held out of further outings. Two scouting directors said that they were told Hansen’s absence was because of a sore elbow. Hughes said Hansen would return to the mound to throw a bullpen this week, which likely will be watched very closely by scouts who will want to see him throwing free and easy before the fall ends. That’s especially true given Hansen’s past history with forearm soreness.

Hansen is considered one of the top four prospects for next June’s draft, joined by Florida lefthander A.J. Puk and a pair of high school pitchers-righthander Riley Pint and lefthander Jason Groome. This new setback may add further questions for scouts who were already raising questions after Hansen decided not to pitch this summer.

“Absolutely, it’s a question we’ll have to have answered. Why didn’t he pitch in the summer? Is this carry-over to fall,” said a National League scouting director.

While Hansen was held out of the second half of fall ball, Puk was pitching in front of a large number of scouts in a Gators’ scrimmage on Oct. 18 including a large number of Phillies front office officials including Hall of Fame executive Pat Gillick. The Phillies have the No. 1 pick in next June’s draft.

Scouts and college coaches will trade more rumors this weekend in Jupiter, Fla., for Perfect Game’s World Wood Bat Association event, the final showcase of the season and the biggest. They won’t see Groome (a Vanderbilt signee) or Pint (an LSU commit) pitch, however; neither planned to participate, though sources indicated Groome would attend and would meet with representatives from teams at the top of the draft.

Contributing: John Manuel