Austin Hansen

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #27 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Astros are quite happy to pick college relievers who they see as having some starter traits—the tandem starter approach they use helps them then ease into starting. Hansen was the Sooners closer. With Houston, he transitioned to a tandem starter role in 2019 and was effective at two levels.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hansen steadily gained velocity as the weather warmed up in 2019. He began the season sitting 90-94 mph, but by the end of the year he was sitting 93-96 and touching 98. That plus fastball and above-average, hard slider and 12-to-6 curveball gives him a chance for three above-average pitches. He hides the ball well in his delivery. Like many Astros prospects, he's coached to take walks rather than give in and give up hard contact and has below-average control. His command is also below average. His changeup has improved, but is still a below-average chase pitch largely just for lefties. Scouts laud his makeup and competitiveness.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hansen very well could end up back in the relief role he thrived in at Oklahoma, but he has shown enough starter traits to stay in the rotation for now.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #234 prospect in 2018 draft
  Hansen has been a reliable late-inning option for the Sooners this season as he attacks hitters with a little more varied assortment than most power relievers. He mixes a 93-95 mph fastball and a solid-average curveball and changeup. At his best Hansen will touch a 96, but that velocity usually tails off, especially when he's working back-to-back days, which feeds scouts concerns about his 6-foot frame. His spin rate impresses teams as well.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A closer at Oklahoma his junior year, Hansen is one of several college relievers the Astros have drafted and developed in their tandem-starter system. Hansen had success in that role in 2019 as he climbed to high Class A Fayetteville and got continued work at instructional league in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hansen pitches with a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s and can reach back for 98 mph. He has an above-average slider that is his putaway pitch, and the combination of his fastball and slider helped him strike out 33% of the batters he faced in 2019. Hansen primarily relies on those two pitches, but his feel for spin shows up on a curveball with good depth. He also throws an occasional below-average changeup. Hansen's delivery has a lot of effort, which gives him some deception but also impedes his command and control, leading to too many walks.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hansen will continue to develop as a starter, but his stuff, delivery and control all suggest a likely return to the bullpen. He'll open at Double-A in 2021.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Astros are quite happy to pick college relievers who they see as having some starter traits—the tandem starter approach they use helps them then ease into starting. Hansen was the Sooners closer. With Houston, he transitioned to a tandem starter role in 2019 and was effective at two levels.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hansen steadily gained velocity as the weather warmed up in 2019. He began the season sitting 90-94 mph, but by the end of the year he was sitting 93-96 and touching 98. That plus fastball and above-average, hard slider and 12-to-6 curveball gives him a chance for three above-average pitches. He hides the ball well in his delivery. Like many Astros prospects, he's coached to take walks rather than give in and give up hard contact and has below-average control. His command is also below average. His changeup has improved, but is still a below-average chase pitch largely just for lefties. Scouts laud his makeup and competitiveness.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hansen very well could end up back in the relief role he thrived in at Oklahoma, but he has shown enough starter traits to stay in the rotation for now.