Emerson Hancock

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: A top draft prospect in high school, Hancock made it to campus at Georgia and spent three seasons in the Bulldogs’ rotation. The Mariners drafted him sixth overall in the shortened 2020 draft and signed him for $5.7 million. Hancock’s pedigree was lofty, but repeated injuries have hampered him as a pro. He battled recurring shoulder soreness his first season, missed the first six weeks of the 2022 season with a lat strain and was again felled by a shoulder injury in 2023. When healthy, he went 11-5, 4.20 at Double-A Arkansas and made his big league debut in August but suffered a shoulder strain in his third start and finished the year on the 60-day injured list.
  
  Scouting Report: Hancock is a big, physical righthander whose stuff has been up and down with his health. He has a riding four-seam fastball and sinking two-seam fastball that both sit 92-93 mph and touch 95, with his sinker the better of the two pitches. His tumbling, mid-80s changeup plays well off his sinker and is a plus pitch that gets swings and misses from both lefthanded and righthanded hitters. His mid-80s slider is a soft, loose offering he lacks touch or feel for and is a below-average pitch. Hancock’s control is just average and he lacks overpowering stuff, but he reads swings and sequences well to get ground balls. He rarely allows hard contact in the air and does a good job of limiting home runs. Hancock’s primary issue is his delivery. He opens up early and puts lots of strain on his shoulder with his short arm action and low arm slot, leading to his injuries.
  
  The Future: Hancock projects to be a steady back-of-the-rotation starter or long reliever but has to stay healthy. That will be his main goal in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #5 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: A 38th-round pick of the D-backs out of high school, Hancock became one of the top pitchers in the Southeastern Conference at Georgia and was drafted sixth overall by the Mariners in the shortened 2020 draft. He pitched just 44.2 innings in his pro debut due to recurring shoulder soreness and missed the first six weeks of the 2022 season with a lat strain, but he stayed healthy after he returned in May and became a steady presence in Double-A Arkansas' rotation. He earned a selection to the Futures Game and struck out the side in his lone inning.
  
  Scouting Report: Hancock is a lean, 6-foot-4 righthander who lives on weak contact rather than swings and misses. His fastball sits 92-94 mph and touches 96, and he's able to both ride it at the top of the zone or sink it. His mid-80s changeup with late drop is a plus pitch that pairs particularly well with his sinker and is his go-to out pitch. He is comfortable throwing his changeup in any count to lefthanded and righthanded hitters and uses it to induce a heavy dose of ground balls. Hancock's low-80s slider is a fringy pitch that lacks power or movement, but he keeps it off of barrels to avoid damage. Hancock's control is merely average and none of his pitches is overwhelming, but he's a smart competitor who reads swings and sequences well. Hancock's primary concern is his health. His short arm action and low arm slot put a lot of strain on his shoulder, leading to concerns about his durability. He has never pitched more than 100 innings in a season and has completed six innings just twice in 33 professional starts.
  
  The Future: The Mariners acknowledge Hancock will likely fall short of his draft status, but they believe he has a chance to be an effective No. 4 or 5 starter. He'll open 2023 at Triple-A Tacoma and has a chance to make his major league debut during the year.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 45. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #6 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: A 38th-round pick by the D-backs out of high school, Hancock spent three years in Georgia’s starting rotation and posted a gaudy 1.99 ERA as a sophomore. He made only four starts his junior year before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the season, but the Mariners still drafted him sixth overall and signed him for $5.7 million. Hancock spent his first professional summer at the alternate training site before making his pro debut in 2021. He posted a 2.62 ERA and advanced to Double-A but was limited to 44.2 innings by recurring shoulder soreness.
  
  Scouting Report: Known for his advanced control and polished delivery in college, Hancock has become more of a power pitcher as a pro and traded some of that smoothness for increased velocity. He overpowers hitters with a 94-98 mph four-seam fastball that rides up and a 93-96 mph two-seam fastball that sinks down out of his low arm slot, with his two-seamer the better of the two pitches. His sweepy, 79-80 mph slider flashes above-average and his mid-80s changeup is a plus pitch at its best. Hancock’s delivery has become more effortful as he’s tried to throw harder and his control has regressed to average. He opens up early, costing him deception, and puts a lot of stress on his shoulder with his arm slot, raising concerns about future injuries. He had multiple starts pushed back last season in addition to two separate injured list stints for his shoulder.
  
  The Future: Hancock has mid-rotation stuff, but his delivery, control and health are all trending toward a bullpen future. He’ll try to reverse those trends in 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #4 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 50. Control: 60.
  
  
  TRACK RECORD: Hancock zoomed up draft boards after an outstanding sophomore season at Georgia in 2019 that included a 1.99 ERA. His four college starts in 2020 before the season shut down weren’t as gaudy, but his assortment of plus pitches and outstanding control were enough for the Mariners to draft him sixth overall and sign him for $5.7 million. Hancock participated at the Mariners’ alternate training site and instructional league, but he did not pitch because of the long layoff after the college season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hancock stands out for his command, frame, delivery and pitch mix. He starts with a plus fastball that sits 93-97 mph with heavy sinking action. The Mariners will try to optimize the life on Hancock’s fastball to get it to play better up in the zone. Hancock’s low-80s slider is above-average with the potential to be plus. His tumbling changeup consistently misses bats against both righthanded and lefthanded batters. Hancock rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used curveball. He’s a natural athlete with a clean delivery that allows him plus control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hancock profiles as at least a No. 3 starter and perhaps better if he refines his breaking pitches. High Class A is his likely assignment coming out of spring training.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #4 prospect in 2020 draft
  A notable high school prospect out of Georgia in 2017, Hancock established himself as one of the best college pitchers in the country during a tremendous sophomore season in 2019. He posted a 1.99 ERA—the eighth best mark in Georgia history—and led the SEC with a 0.84 WHIP while allowing one run or fewer in nine of his 14 starts. Scouts lauded his delivery, command and repertoire at the time, with some believing each of his pitches were plus or better. The grades on Hancock’s offerings weren’t quite as gaudy early in 2020, but his command, frame, delivery and pitch mix still place him among the elite pitchers in the draft class. Hancock’s command earns potential plus grades—rare for an amateur pitcher with his stuff. He walked just 1.79 batters per nine innings as a sophomore, and that rate was down to 1.13 after four starts in 2020. He spots his entire arsenal where he wants it out of his lower arm slot, which allows everything to play up. Hancock’s fastball ranges from 93-97 mph, though some evaluators question if it has the riding life and swing-and-miss qualities you’d like from a frontline starter. Hancock's low 80s slider is an above-average offering that gets plus grades at its best, while a tumbling changeup is his most consistent offspeed pitch and generates whiffs from batters on both sides. Hancock also throws an infrequent curveball as his fourth pitch. Hancock is unsurprisingly efficient considering his command. He fields his position well with impressive natural athleticism and a clean delivery that leaves him in good fielding position. Hancock lacks an out-pitch breaking ball, but his athleticism, frame, command, velocity, changeup and track record in the SEC all combine to make him difficult to pass up. He should be one of the first pitchers off the board.
• Ranked #164 prospect in 2017 draft
  Some Georgia area scouts see Hancock as the No. 2 pitching prospect in the state behind lefthander D.L. Hall. The ace of the Syrupmakers has a highly projectable 6-foot-4 frame with room to pack on more muscle, and his plus arm speed has scouts dreaming on his upside. Hancock has been a two-way player in high school, playing shortstop when he doesn't pitch, and scouts believe he'll truly take off when he becomes a pitcher-only. He pitches in the low 90s and some scouts have seen him reach as high as 96 this spring. His best offspeed pitch is his changeup, a low 80s offering with late dive and fading action; it projects as a plus pitch. His curveball is flashy but very inconsistent. Thrown in the mid-70s, the pitch sometimes shows long, loopy break and Hancock will occasionally slow his arm down and telegraph the pitch so that he can land it with depth in the strike zone. Sometimes, the pitch shows hard, 12-to-6 snap and looks like an above-average pitch, though Hancock has a long way to go with the pitch. His projection and three-pitch mix could entice a club to take a shot on him now. He is committed to Georgia, and could boost his draft stock by becoming a dominant weekend starter in the Southeastern Conference.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #57 prospect in 2021

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: A 38th-round pick of the D-backs out of high school, Hancock became one of the top pitchers in the Southeastern Conference at Georgia and was drafted sixth overall by the Mariners in the shortened 2020 draft. He pitched just 44.2 innings in his pro debut due to recurring shoulder soreness and missed the first six weeks of the 2022 season with a lat strain, but he stayed healthy after he returned in May and became a steady presence in Double-A Arkansas' rotation. He earned a selection to the Futures Game and struck out the side in his lone inning.
  
  Scouting Report: Hancock is a lean, 6-foot-4 righthander who lives on weak contact rather than swings and misses. His fastball sits 92-94 mph and touches 96, and he's able to both ride it at the top of the zone or sink it. His mid-80s changeup with late drop is a plus pitch that pairs particularly well with his sinker and is his go-to out pitch. He is comfortable throwing his changeup in any count to lefthanded and righthanded hitters and uses it to induce a heavy dose of ground balls. Hancock's low-80s slider is a fringy pitch that lacks power or movement, but he keeps it off of barrels to avoid damage. Hancock's control is merely average and none of his pitches is overwhelming, but he's a smart competitor who reads swings and sequences well. Hancock's primary concern is his health. His short arm action and low arm slot put a lot of strain on his shoulder, leading to concerns about his durability. He has never pitched more than 100 innings in a season and has completed six innings just twice in 33 professional starts.
  
  The Future: The Mariners acknowledge Hancock will likely fall short of his draft status, but they believe he has a chance to be an effective No. 4 or 5 starter. He'll open 2023 at Triple-A Tacoma and has a chance to make his major league debut during the year.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 45. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: A 38th-round pick of the D-backs out of high school, Hancock became one of the top pitchers in the Southeastern Conference at Georgia and was drafted sixth overall by the Mariners in the shortened 2020 draft. He pitched just 44.2 innings in his pro debut due to recurring shoulder soreness and missed the first six weeks of the 2022 season with a lat strain, but he stayed healthy after he returned in May and became a steady presence in Double-A Arkansas' rotation. He earned a selection to the Futures Game and struck out the side in his lone inning.
  
  Scouting Report: Hancock is a lean, 6-foot-4 righthander who lives on weak contact rather than swings and misses. His fastball sits 92-94 mph and touches 96, and he's able to both ride it at the top of the zone or sink it. His mid-80s changeup with late drop is a plus pitch that pairs particularly well with his sinker and is his go-to out pitch. He is comfortable throwing his changeup in any count to lefthanded and righthanded hitters and uses it to induce a heavy dose of ground balls. Hancock's low-80s slider is a fringy pitch that lacks power or movement, but he keeps it off of barrels to avoid damage. Hancock's control is merely average and none of his pitches is overwhelming, but he's a smart competitor who reads swings and sequences well. Hancock's primary concern is his health. His short arm action and low arm slot put a lot of strain on his shoulder, leading to concerns about his durability. He has never pitched more than 100 innings in a season and has completed six innings just twice in 33 professional starts.
  
  The Future: The Mariners acknowledge Hancock will likely fall short of his draft status, but they believe he has a chance to be an effective No. 4 or 5 starter. He'll open 2023 at Triple-A Tacoma and has a chance to make his major league debut during the year.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 45. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: A 38th-round pick by the D-backs out of high school, Hancock spent three years in Georgia&#39s starting rotation and posted a gaudy 1.99 ERA as a sophomore. He made only four starts his junior year before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the season, but the Mariners still drafted him sixth overall and signed him for $5.7 million. Hancock spent his first professional summer at the alternate training site before making his pro debut in 2021. He posted a 2.62 ERA and advanced to Double-A but was limited to 44.2 innings by recurring shoulder soreness.
  
  Scouting Report: Known for his advanced control and polished delivery in college, Hancock has become more of a power pitcher as a pro and traded some of that smoothness for increased velocity. He overpowers hitters with a 94-98 mph four-seam fastball that rides up and a 93-96 mph two-seam fastball that sinks down out of his low arm slot, with his two-seamer the better of the two pitches. His sweepy, 79-80 mph slider flashes above-average and his mid-80s changeup is a plus pitch at its best. Hancock&#39s delivery has become more effortful as he&#39s tried to throw harder and his control has regressed to average. He opens up early, costing him deception, and puts a lot of stress on his shoulder with his arm slot, raising concerns about future injuries. He had multiple starts pushed back last season in addition to two separate injured list stints for his shoulder.
  
  The Future: Hancock has mid-rotation stuff, but his delivery, control and health are all trending toward a bullpen future. He&#39ll try to reverse those trends in 2022.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: A 38th-round pick by the D-backs out of high school, Hancock spent three years in Georgia’s starting rotation and posted a gaudy 1.99 ERA as a sophomore. He made only four starts his junior year before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the season, but the Mariners still drafted him sixth overall and signed him for $5.7 million. Hancock spent his first professional summer at the alternate training site before making his pro debut in 2021. He posted a 2.62 ERA and advanced to Double-A but was limited to 44.2 innings by recurring shoulder soreness.
  
  Scouting Report: Known for his advanced control and polished delivery in college, Hancock has become more of a power pitcher as a pro and traded some of that smoothness for increased velocity. He overpowers hitters with a 94-98 mph four-seam fastball that rides up and a 93-96 mph two-seam fastball that sinks down out of his low arm slot, with his two-seamer the better of the two pitches. His sweepy, 79-80 mph slider flashes above-average and his mid-80s changeup is a plus pitch at its best. Hancock’s delivery has become more effortful as he’s tried to throw harder and his control has regressed to average. He opens up early, costing him deception, and puts a lot of stress on his shoulder with his arm slot, raising concerns about future injuries. He had multiple starts pushed back last season in addition to two separate injured list stints for his shoulder.
  
  The Future: Hancock has mid-rotation stuff, but his delivery, control and health are all trending toward a bullpen future. He’ll try to reverse those trends in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hancock hasn't pitched since June 25 due to shoulder tenderness, but he was effective when healthy. He showed the ability to play his sinking 93-96 mph two-seamer and riding 95-98 mph four-seamer off each other, with the sinker the better of the two, and his slider has been an above-average to plus pitch. Hancock's changeup and the quality of his strikes have been inconsistent, but at his best he looks like a mid-rotation starter.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 50. Control: 60.
  
  
  TRACK RECORD: Hancock zoomed up draft boards after an outstanding sophomore season at Georgia in 2019 that included a 1.99 ERA. His four college starts in 2020 before the season shut down weren’t as gaudy, but his assortment of plus pitches and outstanding control were enough for the Mariners to draft him sixth overall and sign him for $5.7 million. Hancock participated at the Mariners’ alternate training site and instructional league, but he did not pitch because of the long layoff after the college season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hancock stands out for his command, frame, delivery and pitch mix. He starts with a plus fastball that sits 93-97 mph with heavy sinking action. The Mariners will try to optimize the life on Hancock’s fastball to get it to play better up in the zone. Hancock’s low-80s slider is above-average with the potential to be plus. His tumbling changeup consistently misses bats against both righthanded and lefthanded batters. Hancock rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used curveball. He’s a natural athlete with a clean delivery that allows him plus control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hancock profiles as at least a No. 3 starter and perhaps better if he refines his breaking pitches. High Class A is his likely assignment coming out of spring training.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 50. Control: 60.
  
  
  TRACK RECORD: Hancock zoomed up draft boards after an outstanding sophomore season at Georgia in 2019 that included a 1.99 ERA. His four college starts in 2020 before the season shut down weren’t as gaudy, but his assortment of plus pitches and outstanding control were enough for the Mariners to draft him sixth overall and sign him for $5.7 million. Hancock participated at the Mariners’ alternate training site and instructional league, but he did not pitch because of the long layoff after the college season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hancock stands out for his command, frame, delivery and pitch mix. He starts with a plus fastball that sits 93-97 mph with heavy sinking action. The Mariners will try to optimize the life on Hancock’s fastball to get it to play better up in the zone. Hancock’s low-80s slider is above-average with the potential to be plus. His tumbling changeup consistently misses bats against both righthanded and lefthanded batters. Hancock rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used curveball. He’s a natural athlete with a clean delivery that allows him plus control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hancock profiles as at least a No. 3 starter and perhaps better if he refines his breaking pitches. High Class A is his likely assignment coming out of spring training.
• December, 2019 Scouting Report
  A notable high school prospect out of Georgia in 2017, Hancock established himself as one of the best college pitchers in the country during a tremendous sophomore season in 2019. He posted a 1.99 ERA—the eighth best mark in Georgia history—and led the SEC with a 0.84 WHIP while allowing one run or fewer in nine of his 14 starts. Scouts lauded his delivery, command and repertoire at the time, with some believing each of his pitches were plus or better. The grades on Hancock’s offerings weren’t quite as gaudy early in 2020, but his command, frame, delivery and pitch mix still place him among the elite pitchers in the draft class. Hancock’s command earns potential plus grades—rare for an amateur pitcher with his stuff. He walked just 1.79 batters per nine innings as a sophomore, and that rate was down to 1.13 after four starts in 2020. He spots his entire arsenal where he wants it out of his lower arm slot, which allows everything to play up. Hancock’s fastball ranges from 93-97 mph, though some evaluators question if it has the riding life and swing-and-miss qualities you’d like from a frontline starter. Hancock's low 80s slider is an above-average offering that gets plus grades at its best, while a tumbling changeup is his most consistent offspeed pitch and generates whiffs from batters on both sides. Hancock also throws an infrequent curveball as his fourth pitch. Hancock is unsurprisingly efficient considering his command. He fields his position well with impressive natural athleticism and a clean delivery that leaves him in good fielding position. Hancock lacks an out-pitch breaking ball, but his athleticism, frame, command, velocity, changeup and track record in the SEC all combine to make him difficult to pass up. He should be one of the first pitchers off the board.