Craig Hansen
2305763
225929568
2008-07-16T01:51:45Z
Dancey2
1395876
{{Infobox MLB player
| name = Craig Hansen
| image = Chansen.jpg
| width = 200
| caption =
| team = Boston Red Sox
| number = 56
| position = Relief pitcher
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1983|11|15}}
| birthplace = {{city-state|Glen Cove|New York}}
| bats = Right
| throws = Right
| debutdate = September 19
| debutyear = 2005
| debutteam = Boston Red Sox
| statyear = July 13, 2008
| stat1label = [[Win (baseball)|Win-Loss]]
| stat1value = 3-5
| stat2label = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value = 6.15
| stat3label = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value = 55
| teams = <nowiki></nowiki>
*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{by|2005}}-{{by|2006}}, {{by|2008}})
}}
'''Craig Robert Hansen''' (born [[November 15]], [[1983]] in [[Glen Cove, New York]]) is a [[relief pitcher]] in the [[Boston Red Sox]] organization. A dominant [[closer (baseball)|closer]] out of [[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]], Hansen was drafted in 2005 and quickly made his major league debut, but has since spent most of his career at the Triple-A level [[Pawtucket Red Sox]]. At 6-foot-5, Hansen reportedly can reach 97 to 98 miles per hour and mixes in a hard [[slider]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/07/25/rookie_closer_gets_start_on_pro_career/ |date=2005-07-25 | title=Rookie closer gets start on pro career | publisher=[[Boston Globe]] |author=Chris Snow |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref>
==College career==
Hansen's collegiate career began at St. John's in 2003 after selecting the school over [[Columbia University|Columbia]], [[Yale]] and [[Hofstra]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://redstormsports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/hansen_craig00.html | title=Player Bio: Craig Hansen | publisher=[[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]] |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://craig-hansen.com/biography.html | title=Craig Hansen Biography| publisher=Craig-Hansen.com |accessdate=2008-03-21}}</ref>
While he struggled during his Freshman campaign in 2003, Hansen began to establish himself as a closer during his Sophomore season in 2004. Hansen posted a 3-2 record with 14 [[save (sport)|saves]] in his Junior season of 2005, registering 85 [[strikeout]]s in 64 [[innings pitched]], a 1.68 ERA, and was named a first-team All-American by ''[[Baseball America]]''.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://redstormsports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/061605aaa.html | title=St. John's Pitcher Craig Hansen Earns First Team All-American Honors |date=2005-06-15 | publisher=[[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]] |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/craig-hansen.shtml | title=Craig Hansen Statistics | publisher=The Baseball Cube |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref>
==Pro career==
With the 26th pick in the first round of the {{by|2005}} draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Hansen and signed him to a four-year deal valued at $4 million.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/07/25/rookie_closer_gets_start_on_pro_career/ |date=2005-07-25 | title=Rookie closer gets start on pro career | publisher=[[Boston Globe]] |author=Chris Snow |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref> The Red Sox added him to the 40-man roster, assigning Hansen to a conditioning stint in [[Gulf Coast Red Sox|Fort Myers]] before sending him to the Double-A [[Portland Sea Dogs]]. Hansen joined the Boston Red Sox as a late season call-up, making his major league debut on September 19 against the [[Tampa Bay Devil Rays]]. Hansen struck out the first man he faced, pitching a perfect inning with two strikeouts, and would make three more appearances before the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050919&content_id=1215948&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos |date=2005-09-20 | title=Notes: Hansen, Ramirez get the call: Red Sox's top prospects join club for stretch run | publisher=[[MLB.com]] |author=Ian Browne |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref>
After starting the {{by|2006}} season in Portland and Pawtucket, Hansen was recalled on June 6 by the Red Sox. On June 26, Hansen earned his first major league win in an extra-inning game against the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]. On August 20, Hansen entered a tie game against the [[New York Yankees]] in the 10th inning only to allow a game-winning home run to [[Jason Giambi]] and a two-run home run to [[Jorge Posada]]. <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/box/2006/BOS200608200.shtml |date=2006-08-20 | title=Boxscore - NY Yankees Vs. Boston Red Sox August 20, 2006 | publisher=The Baseball Cube |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref> Hansen would end the season with a 6.63 [[Earned run average|ERA]]. During [[spring training]] for the {{by|2007}} season, manager [[Terry Francona]] suggested that the team may have rushed Hansen to the majors too quickly.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2007/03/28/hansen_delcarmen_sent_down/ |date=2007-03-28 | title=Hansen, Delcarmen sent down: Snyder claims spot in bullpen | publisher=[[Boston Globe]] |author=[[Dan Shaughnessy]] |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref>
Following the 2006 season, Hansen enrolled himself in a sleep study clinic after hearing complaints from family and roommates for years about his loud snoring. The results revealed that he suffered from severe [[sleep apnea]], and it would manifest itself as fatigue and the inability to focus. Hansen informed the Red Sox, but he chose not to get the surgery to correct the condition because it would interfere with his preparation for the upcoming season. However, Hansen spent the entire {{by|2007}} season with the Triple-A [[Pawtucket Red Sox]], going 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA, and did not earn a promotion to Boston, who went on to win the [[World Series]] without him. Hansen also played in the developmental [[Arizona Fall League]] to get extra work in after missing some of the season with forearm tenderness.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2007/09/19/muscle_still_missing_from_lineup/?page=2 |date=2007-09-19 | title=Muscle still missing from lineup: Fall ball for Hansen | publisher=[[Boston Globe]] |author=[[Amalie Benjamin]] |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref> During the offseason, Hansen underwent surgery in the hopes of correcting the sleep apnea condition that may have affected his stamina and pitching performance.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080212&content_id=2371102&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos&partnered=rss_bos |date=2008-02-12 | title=Refreshed Hansen bursting with energy: Young reliever feeling great following sleep apnea surgery | publisher=[[MLB.com]] |author=Ian Browne |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref>
Hansen reported to Red Sox spring training in {{by|2008}} and initial reports suggest that the team is impressed with his performance.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/03/01/matsuzaka_comfortable/ |date=2008-03-01 | title=Matsuzaka comfortable | publisher=[[Boston Globe]] |author=[[Gordon Edes]] |accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref>
Hansen has spent 2 stints on the Red Sox roster in 2008. He is currently fulfilling the spot of Brandon Moss who had appendicitis and was placed on the DL. Terry Francona stated that he needed more arms in the bullpen than 5 outfielders.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External Sources==
{{baseballstats |mlb=475022 |espn=6454 |br=h/hansecr01 |fangraphs=4798&position=P |cube=H/craig-hansen}}
*[http://www.soxprospects.com/players/hansen-craig.htm Soxprospects.com] Bio / statistics
*[http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=21475 Baseball Reference] minor league statistics
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Craig}}
[[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Major league pitchers]]
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:People from Nassau County, New York]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[ja:クレイグ・ハンセン]]