Brenan Hanifee

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #23 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: If Hanifee's first full season at low Class A Delmarva in 2018 was evocative of a past generation's mantra of sinkers at the knees and efficiency over all else, his follow-up at high Class A Frederick showed how the new Orioles' regime doesn't think that's enough.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Routinely 90-93 mph at the knees with sinking action, Hanifee's fastball is still his best pitch. He relied on it too much in 2018, so the Orioles' new pitching model emphasized his offspeed pitches more. He still got weak contact and ground balls, but the new mandates easily explain the jump in walk rate from 1.5 per nine innings to nearly four. He threw his 80-82 mph slider and 85-86 mph changeup more often, with his slider showing above-average potential, though it wasn't consistent. His changeup is coming along.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hanifee's overall profile isn't one that fits well with the Orioles' spin-centric pitching philosophy, but he has plenty of fans around the game. His sinker and relative youth will keep him on a starter's path toward the back-end of a major league rotation. A Double-A Bowie assignment in 2020 would show they like the progress he's made.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #11 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Hanifee signed for an above-slot $500,000 after jumping onto the 2016 draft radar, but he didn't debut until 2017 at short-season Aberdeen. His 2018 at low Class A Delmarva was a master class in efficiency, with Hanifee presenting himself as a throwback starter who pitched to contact and worked deep into games. He gave the Shorebirds 11 quality starts in 16 outings before workload restrictions.
  
  Scouting Report: Hanifee was a favorite of scouts during in 2018, with one remarking that he pitches like he's 35 years old. His 91-94 mph fastball has tremendous sink and helped him to an above-average groundball rate, though he can command it well and change eye levels with it as well. He throws his slider for strikes with plus potential, and his changeup can get to average or a tick above. Everything plays up because it's down in the zone.
  
  The Future: Hanifee reaching his No. 4 stater potential will hinge on his secondary pitches and continued ability to locate. His athleticism and advanced approach make that more likely than a typical high school draftee. He'll try to continue his progress at high Class A Frederick in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #20 prospect in 2018
  A multi-sport athlete who pitched his way onto the MLB draft radar late in his senior year, Hanifee eschewed a commitment to East Carolina to sign with the Orioles for an above-slot $500,000 bonus, then flourished in a rotation full of more advanced college pitches for short season Aberdeen in 2017. Hanifee didn't pitch in 2016, but went 7-3, 2.75 and a 1.12 WHIP in his professional debut, impressing scouts with a heavy sinker at 91-94 mph with a good feel for the strike zone. His youth and athleticism, plus his projectable frame, makes scouts dream on potential for added strength and velocity that could make his fastball a plus pitch going forward. He also features a slider and changeup that are still developing, which will be the keys to his progress, but the Orioles believe that as he gains more experience, those could develop enough to keep him as a starter. Hanifee's frame and fastball suggest a mid-rotation starter at present, but Hanifee's youth means he's far from that. He'll open 2018 in low Class A Delmarva for his first full professional season.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #181 prospect in 2016 draft
  Hanifee, whose father, Sean, is an assistant coach at Bridgewater (Va.) College, was a multi-sport star in high school--playing football, basketball and golf. An East Carolina commit, Hanifee flew under the baseball radar until this spring, when he started touching as high as 93 mph and teams flocked in to see him. Hanifee is an intriguing projection righthander with room to tack additional muscle onto his lean, athletic 6-foot-4 frame. He works mostly in the 88-91 mph range with a low 80s slider and a work-in-progress changeup. His offspeed stuff needs work, but it's easy to dream on a tall athletic righthander with room to grow.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: If Hanifee’s first full season at low Class A Delmarva in 2018 was evocative of a past generation’s mantra of sinkers at the knees and efficiency over all else, his follow-up at high Class A Frederick showed how the new Orioles’ regime doesn’t think that’s enough.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Routinely 90-93 mph at the knees with sinking action, Hanifee’s fastball is still his best pitch. He relied on it too much in 2018, so the Orioles’ new pitching model emphasized his offspeed pitches more. He still got weak contact and ground balls, but the new mandates easily explain the jump in walk rate from 1.5 per nine innings to nearly four. He threw his 80-82 mph slider and 85-86 mph changeup more often, with his slider showing above-average potential, though it wasn’t consistent. His changeup is coming along.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hanifee’s overall profile isn’t one that fits well with the Orioles’ spin-centric pitching philosophy, but he has plenty of fans around the game. His sinker and relative youth will keep him on a starter’s path toward the back-end of a major league rotation. A Double-A Bowie assignment in 2020 would show they like the progress he’s made.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: If Hanifee's first full season at low Class A Delmarva in 2018 was evocative of a past generation's mantra of sinkers at the knees and efficiency over all else, his follow-up at high Class A Frederick showed how the new Orioles' regime doesn't think that's enough.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Routinely 90-93 mph at the knees with sinking action, Hanifee's fastball is still his best pitch. He relied on it too much in 2018, so the Orioles' new pitching model emphasized his offspeed pitches more. He still got weak contact and ground balls, but the new mandates easily explain the jump in walk rate from 1.5 per nine innings to nearly four. He threw his 80-82 mph slider and 85-86 mph changeup more often, with his slider showing above-average potential, though it wasn't consistent. His changeup is coming along.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hanifee's overall profile isn't one that fits well with the Orioles' spin-centric pitching philosophy, but he has plenty of fans around the game. His sinker and relative youth will keep him on a starter's path toward the back-end of a major league rotation. A Double-A Bowie assignment in 2020 would show they like the progress he's made.