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Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Todd Hansen knew he had to pitch well in 1987 start; Saw pros over seven seasons, made AA

Todd Hansen had been a hard-luck pitcher for the Bend Phillies, The Salem Statesman Journal wrote in August 1987. 

But this night, against a pitcher that seemed too good for the league, Hansen came out with the 5-0 win, The Statesman Journal wrote.

"I knew I had to pitch well, because he (the opposing pitcher) doesn't belong in this league the way he was pitching," Hansen told The Statesman Journal afterward. "I tried to keep the guys before the three and four hitters off base, so if they hit one out, it's only one run."

Hansen pitched that year in his fourth season as a pro. He went on to pitch in three more. He topped out at AA.

Hansen's career began in 1984, taken by the Pirates in the 17th round of the draft out of Idaho Falls High School.

In high school, Hansen and a teammate drew praise from an opposing coach after Hansen and the other pitcher helped Idaho Falls to a pair of wins, according to The Twin Falls Times-News.

"(Pitchers Greg) Talamantez and (Todd) Hansen were everything we'd heard they are," Twin Falls  coach Bill Ingram told The Times-News.

With the Pirates, Hansen started in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He went 4-6, with a 3.06 ERA. He moved to short-season Watertown, where he went 2-6, with a 6.08 ERA,

He split 1986 between single-A Macon and short-season Tri-Cities, then 1987 between Macon with the Pirates and short-season Bend with the Phillies. He went 5-7, with a 4.01 ERA that year.

Hansen then moved to the Padres system for 1988. He played that year at single-A Charleston. He went 13-11, with a 2.25 ERA at Charleston.

He played 1989 at single-A Riverside, then hit AA Wichita for 1990. He went 6-3 over 27 outings, eight starts, with a 4.67 ERA to end his career.

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,483
Made the Majors:1,215-34.9%
Never Made Majors:2,268-65.1%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:504
10+ Seasons in the Minors:299

1 comment:

  1. I've never seen this set. Looks loosely based on the '52 Topps set.

    ReplyDelete