Jack Hannahan

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #15 prospect in 2003
  Like Joe Mauer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft, Hannahan was a baseball and football star at St. Paul's Cretin-Derham Hall. But Hannahan has taken a much more difficult path. He developed a drinking problem as an adolescent and was kicked off the Cretin- Derham baseball team for drinking in the 10th grade. His trials continued, including arrests and blackouts, before he finally sought help in July 2000, entered a treatment facility and got sober. He came back for his junior year at Minnesota and became the Big 10 Conference player of the year. When the Tigers selected Hannahan out of Minnesota, they figured they had landed an advanced prospect. They were right, as he got to Double-A within a year. But once he got to Erie, Hannahan hit the wall and didn't perform up to expectations. One of the reasons Hannahan advanced quickly was because he showed patience at the plate, didn't chase bad pitches and used the entire field. In Double-A, he was less selective and less successful. The knock against him is that he doesn't have typical power for a corner infielder, and he may have hurt himself by trying to beat that rap. He'll have to hit for a high average to be an effective major league hitter at third base. Defensively, Hannahan is excellent. He has soft hands and a good throwing arm. He lacks speed, but is a fluid athlete otherwise. He'll get a second chance at Double-A this year.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #10 prospect in 2002
  Like Joe Mauer, the No. 1 overall pick in last June's draft, Hannahan starred in baseball and football at St. Paul's Cretin-Derham Hall. The 2001 Big Ten Conference player of the year, Hannahan also had a huge pro debut like Mauer did. Hannahan spent most of his summer at low Class A West Michigan, impressing Midwest League managers with his all-around game. He has good bat control and looks capable of hitting for a high average. He stays behind the ball well and can lace line drives into the gap. He's also an above-average third baseman, showing steady hands, an accurate arm and solid instincts. He was considered the University of Minnesota's best defensive third baseman since Terry Steinbach, who became an all-star catcher with the Athletics. Hannahan will have to hit for a high average if he is going to be an effective major league player because he doesn't have much home run power. His other shortcoming is that he doesn't run well. Some scouts think he could follow Steinbach's path to the majors as a catcher, but third base is a position of need for the Tigers. He could move fast at the hot corner, possibly reaching Double-A quickly in 2002.