Travis Hanson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #7 prospect in 2006
  A broken ankle derailed Hanson in 2004, but he bounced back with his best pro season in 2005. He was the Double-A Texas League's all-star third baseman and led Cardinals farmhands in RBIs and total bases (250). Like Chris Lambert, he finished the year in the AFL and with Team USA in the Olympic qualifier. For the first time, Hanson showed power that had only been potential in the past. His powerful swing generates a lot of leverage off the back side, and the timing came together in 2005, showing that he can be a run producer. Before he got hurt in 2004, he was a slick fielder at third base and had seen time at second. In part because of his injury, Hanson's footwork was poor when he returned. He led Texas League third basemen with 36 errors, though he did look better as the season went on. With Hanson's defensive struggles and Scott Rolen's presence in St. Louis, the Cardinals will continue to try him at other positions. His offensive performance merits a move up to Triple-A, and he could break into the big leagues as a utility player.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #18 prospect in 2005
  On June 3, Cardinals farm director Bruce Manno got a call early in the evening to inform him that Double-A shortstop John Nelson had torn ligaments in his ankle. Shortly after he hung up, Manno's telephone rang again with the news that Hanson had broken his ankle in two places sliding into second base. St. Louis tried to find him a new defensive home in 2004. He played shortstop in college before moving to third base as a pro, but Scott Rolen is entrenched at the hot corner for the Cardinals. Hanson's offensive profile fits second base better anyway, so he moved there in spring training last year. With his arm, hands and work ethic, Hanson immediately took to the change and was improving rapidly when he got hurt. He has a good approach at the plate and is able to make adjustments, but he hasn't delivered much offense as a pro. He lacks home run power and doesn't draw many walks. The best defensive infielder in the system, he might not be more than a line-drive hitting utilityman. St. Louis will give Hanson time to ease back into action at its new Double-A Springfield affiliate, probably putting him at third base to start the season before moving him back to second.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #6 prospect in 2004
  The valedictorian of his high school graduating class in suburban Seattle, Hanson was a late bloomer on the baseball field. He earned only a partial scholarship to Portland, where he was a three-year starter. He got off to a hot start at Peoria in his first full season, but a slow May and June left him with more pedestrian numbers. The organization already regards Hanson as its best defensive infielder. He shows athleticism, soft hands and a strong arm at third base, and some scouts think he should return to shortstop, his college position. He might fit better there offensively, because while he has gap power he could max out at 15 homers per year. Hanson does have a smooth, natural swing and uses the entire field. Hanson has good instincts at the plate but is still learning the strike zone and pitch recognition. He needs to get more selective and look for pitches he can drive. His speed is below-average. Hanson's age for his stage of development tempers excitement about him a bit, but he could remove questions with a midseason jump to Double-A. He'll open 2004 in high Class A.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #14 prospect in 2003
  Hanson was more decorated as a student than a baseball player coming out of South Kitsap High in Port Orchard, Wash., just across Puget Sound from Seattle. He was valedictorian of his graduating class in 1999 and won numerous academic honors, including German student of the year, at the largest secondary school in the Pacific Northwest. He was a three-year starter at Portland and figures to start earning baseball honors now. He started slowly at New Jersey but came on strong to become the all-star third baseman in the New York- Penn League in his professional debut. He moved to third after playing shortstop as an amateur and profiles well there, with the arm, actions and instincts to play defense and the frame and swing to provide enough offense. He showed he could be a run producer at New Jersey, and the Cardinals expect him to add power. He's a work in progress and a below-average runner. His upside would probably make him comparable to former Cardinals farmhand Adam Kennedy. He'll spend his first full season as the third baseman at Peoria.