Ryan Hanigan

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #16 prospect in 2009
  Hanigan made it to the big leagues the hard way. He signed as a nondrafted free agent after impressing the Reds in the Cape Cod League in 2002, then made a steady six-year climb through the system. Injuries earned him an emergency callup in September 2007, and his steady hitting and defense forced the Reds to take notice last season. They waived David Ross in August to give Hanigan a shot. He's a line-drive hitter who hits from an exaggerated closed stance. He has solid plate coverage and draws plenty of walks, while his strikeout rate was among the best in the system. And while he doesn't have a lot of power--he never has hit more than six homers in a season--his ability to get on base means he won't be a liability in the lineup. Hanigan doesn't have any tool that grades out better than average, but he has solid catch-and-throw skills and pitchers like working with him. He threw out 37 percent of basestealers in 2008. Hanigan is 28, so there's no projection left to him, but his package is interesting. He should win the Reds' backup catching job after the December trade for Ramon Hernandez provided a veteran starter.