Justin Hancock

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Diego Padres #25 prospect in 2016
  The highest-ever drafted player out of Lincoln Trail (Ill.) CC in tiny Robinson, Ill., Hancock went unselected in the 2014 Rule 5 draft after being left off the Padres' 40-man roster, and he posted another solid season, reaching Triple-A El Paso for the first time at the end of 2015. The thin righthander has a fastball ranging 92-95 mph with good, boring action to righthanded battters and a changeup that flashed plus in 2105, but his mid-70s curveball lags behind those offerings. He also lacks an out pitch, averaging just 6.6 strikeouts per nine innings as a pro. The Padres have developed Hancock as a starter, but he lacks the physicality and breaking ball to have a regular rotation spot. Again left off the 40-man roster, Hancock likely will return to Triple-A in 2016, where he will continue to develop as a starter, with a future in the bullpen.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #31 prospect in 2015
  The Padres bought Hancock out of an Indiana State commitment in the 2011 draft, signing the ninth rounder for $100,000 out of Lincoln Trail (Ill.) CC. He hasn't put up big numbers as a pro, but scouts like his fastball/changeup combo and project him as a possible big league reliever or No. 5 starter. He went unselected in the 2014 Rule 5 draft after being left off the San Diego 40-man roster. The lean, 6-foot-4 Hancock tops out at 95 mph with a quick arm, but he sits more comfortably in the low 90s with good down plane to the plate. He doesn't currently throw enough strikes to get to his solid-average changeup and fringe-average, mid-70s curveball. Hancock missed most of the first half of 2014 at Double-A San Antonio with an arm injury before returning in early July to go 2-1, 4.00 with 35 strikeouts in 45 innings. He'll try to pitch his way onto the 40-man roster at Triple-A El Paso in 2015.