Joel Hanrahan
| IP | 404 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.854 |
| WHIP | 1.403 |
| BB/9 | 4.411 |
| SO/9 | 9.824 |
- Full name Joel Ryan Hanrahan
- Born 10/06/1981 in Des Moines, IA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 250 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Norwalk
- Debut 07/28/2007
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Drafted in the 2nd round (57th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2000 (signed for $615,000).
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It's rare for an Iowa high school player to be considered for the early rounds--much less the first round. The state does not play a spring schedule, meaning crosscheckers rarely get to see players in a competitive environment. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Hanrahan established himself as a potential high pick last summer and fall when his fastball was clocked from 90-94. His velocity has dropped marginally but scouts see the makings of three average pitches.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Hanrahan has been on the cusp of the big leagues for the last couple of seasons but has struggled to get over the hump. He was roughed up in Triple-A during a late-season promotion in 2003, and followed that up with his worst season as a pro. He has three solid-average pitches, but doesn't repeat his arm slot, neutralizing his stuff and hurting his control. Hanrahan's sinker/slider combination, as well as a good straight changeup, is effective from his usual high three-quarters arm slot, but he often drops down and causes his pitches to flatten out. He gave up a lot of home runs last year after managing to keep the ball in the yard in his first three years in the organization. Hanrahan also had a tendency to spin off his front side toward first base, which contributed to his career-high walk total in just 119 innings, his low for a full season. He has good makeup, pitches with tenacity and pitched through a bout of shoulder stiffness last year. When his mechanics are in sync, His boring sinker sits at 91-92 mph and maxes out at 94. His mid-80s slider has good tilt and bite, and his changeup has nice sink as well. This season is pivotal for Hanrahan, who needs to improve his conditioning, make adjustments and show he can fulfill his potential as a middle- of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues. He'll start the season back in Triple-A. -
Hanrahan threw a pair of no-hitters in high Class A in 2002, then won the Double-A Southern League ERA title last year. Strong and physical, Hanrahan has established himself as a workhorse with the power repertoire to match. He throws a heavy 90-94 mph sinker and touches 95 at times. He tries to get ahead in the count with his fastball and put away hitters with a plus mid-80s slider. He works down in the zone and keeps the ball in the park. Hanrahan has an average changeup but must use it more often. He doesn't consistently repeat his release point, and he needs to stay on top of his slider. His walk rate soared at Triple-A Las Vegas when he tired and his mechanics got sloppy. He can lean on his slider too much at times. Ticketed for a return to Triple-A, Hanrahan is on the cusp of a major league promotion. It may not happen in Los Angeles, but he should be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter for many years. -
Despite a light workload as an amateur in Iowa, where high schools don't play a spring season, Hanrahan has responded to aggressive promotions and established himself as a workhorse. He tossed nine and six inning no-hitters last year before earning a promotion to Double-A. Hanrahan displays a feel for three solid pitches. His 90-92 mph sinker and slider are plus offerings, and he also throws a straight changeup. He does an effective job at changing speeds and pitching inside aggressively. He has a strong, durable frame and clean arm action. Hanrahan has good command, but his delivery occasionally gets out of whack and hinders his location in the zone. The key is for him to stay on top of the ball through his delivery. Otherwise he flies off toward first base, causing his arm slot to drop and stuff to flatten out. He made progress working with pitching instructor Ken Howell. Hanrahan projects as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, but he still needs two full seasons in the minors to accumulate innings and experience. He'll return to Jacksonville, where he got hit hard in three starts. -
Promoted to low Class A as a teenager in his first full year, Hanrahan held up well. He led Wilmington in starts and innings while ranking second in strikeouts. He had success against older competition while making strides with the command of all three of his pitches. Hanrahan throws a 91-92 mph fastball, which alone didn't make him stand out on a Wilmington staff with several quality arms. What did separate him from the pack was his wicked slider and deceptive changeup. He isn't afraid to throw his change, which keeps hitters off balance. His projectable frame makes him a potential workhorse. Despite getting off to a 1-4, 6.33 start last year, Hanrahan didn't panic and instead made steady progress. Hanrahan can refine his mechanics and command, and his willingness to accept instruction should make those tasks easier. The Dodgers say Hanrahan simply needs time to continue working his way up the ladder. Hanrahan is advanced for a high school pitcher out of Iowa, which doesn't have a spring high school baseball season. The Dodgers hope he'll build on his success this year in high Class A. -
The Dodgers rarely tout players from recent drafts for placement among their top prospects. A college player such as Ben Diggins is an exception because of his experience and obvious high ceiling. A pitcher such as Hanrahan is a different story in more ways than one. Because the state of Iowa doesn't play a spring high school schedule, many scouts and crosscheckers have trouble getting an accurate read on potential picks heading into the draft. Hanrahan, however, was so impressive with his low-90s fastball and projectable body during the previous summer and fall that several teams considered him a potential first-round pick. He made a successful debut in the Pioneer League. In addition to his above-average fastball, he showed a promising changeup and slider, which should give him three average offerings. Experience, particularly against a higher level of competition, is his greatest need, along with a better overall knowledge of how to work hitters and both sides of the plate. He'll work on that at Wilmington in 2001.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Not nearly as flashy as Jackson or their late-August teammate, Miller, Hanrahan was nonetheless steady and the one who won the SL's ERA title and most outstanding pitcher award. His stuff, strong physical package and pitch efficiency profile him as a middle-of-the-rotation innings eater, but Dodgers scouting director Logan White compared Hanrahan's fastball-slider combination and arm slot to those of L.A. ace Kevin Brown. "He's a young guy who really pitches," Wellman said. "He has tremendous command for his age, both of his fastball and of his slider, which is a real good pitch. He's 91-92 with the fastball, and he can pitch to both sides of the plate with it." Hanrahan's command and improved changeup helped him neutralize lefthanders, who hit just .232 against him. He must keep his fastball down in the zone to be effective, however. He elevated it in Triple-A and got torched by Pacific Coast League hitters. -
Hanrahan was one of the Dodgers' most sought-after prospects at the trade deadline, but they hung onto him. He tossed a pair of no-hitters for Vero Beach and earned a late-season promotion to Double-A Jacksonville. He got knocked around in three regular season appearances, then turned in a 0.67 ERA in two Southern League playoff starts. Hanrahan displays good command of a three-pitch repertoire that features an 89-94 mph fastball, a tight slider and a changeup. He shows good mound presence and awareness, with the confidence to throw any pitch in any count. He's advanced for a 20-year-old, especially considering he hails from Iowa, a cold-weather state that doesn't have a spring baseball season.
