Jameson Hannah Finds A Fit With The Rockies

Outfielder Jameson Hannah was far from an afterthought in the four-player November deal with the Reds, even though righthander Robert Stephenson was the Rockies’ more notable acquisition.

Pro scout Ty Coslow was integral to obtaining Hannah and likened the 5-foot-9, 185-pound center fielder to outfielder Jon Jay, an 11-year major leaguer.

Coslow saw Hannah twice, early in 2019 with the Athletics’ High-A Stockton affiliate and again last fall at the Reds’ instructional league. Oakland’s second-round pick in 2018 out of Dallas Baptist, Hannah was dealt to the Reds at the 2019 trade deadline for righthander Tanner Roark and cash.

The 23-year-old Hannah didn’t play last year because of the canceled minor league season and received a non-roster invitation to the Rockies’ big league camp.

“In today’s world where everybody’s trying to launch up and hit it as high and as far as they can, he is kind of old school,” Coslow said. “Very simple, very short-levered stroke. Into the zone real quick and just clean.

“Not one of these things where he should experience a bunch of timing issues because of the simpleness to the swing. It’s just very, very quiet.”

In 2019, Hannah hit a combined .274/.339/.369 in 110 games with 28 doubles, two homers and 37 RBIs.

Coslow has seen raw power from Hannah in batting practice and believes eventually it will show up in games. Hannah has an accurate arm and quick release but lacks arm strength. He’s an above-average runner who can play center field, albeit perhaps not in vast Coors Field over the long haul.

“If he got good at it,” Coslow said, “if he played enough center and attacked and cut distance like some of the lesser-armed guys have learned to do, then he is playable in center from the arm standpoint.

“He does have a feel for angles and breaks. He’s not a flashy guy. His understanding of getting behind the ball, and his routes and his angles are a positive that should help him develop into a very sound outfielder.”

ROCKY ROADS

— The Rockies hired Flint Wallace to be coordinator of pitching strategies. He replaces Steve Merriman, who left to be the pitching coach at Michigan and held the title of pitching coordinator. Merriman was scheduled to work at the big league level and the upper levels of the minors in 2021. Wallace, who was player development director at the highly regarded Texas Baseball Ranch, will split his time between the majors and minors.

“Flint brings a ton of experience in all the areas that Steve brought a lot of expertise in,” Rockies farm director Zach Wilson said, “the science of pitching and the technology that allows us to use that science and that data to help our pitchers develop. He’s got that entire skill set and he’s got a history of being a traditional coach, too. So when you combine those things and his personality on top of that—he’s got a great ability to quickly form relationships. You put all that together, and his was the perfect hire.”

— The Rockies brought 13 players to participate in Triple-A spring training alongside big league camp when it opened. That group includes catcher Austin Bernard, infielders Scott Burcham, Jose Gomez and Taylor Snyder; outfielders Wynton Bernard, Casey Golden and Nick Longhi; righthanders Ryan Feltner, Brandon Gold and Garrett Schilling and lefthanders Ian Clarkin, Zac Rosscup and Jack Wynkoop