1. Professional Career
Alen Hanson's professional baseball career began in 2009 when he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, progressing through their minor league system before making his Major League debut. His career path has since taken him through multiple MLB organizations and international leagues, demonstrating his versatility as an infielder and outfielder.
1.1. Pittsburgh Pirates
Alen Hanson's tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization saw his development from a promising international free agent into a Major League player, marked by significant progression through their minor league ranks and a notable position change.
1.1.1. Minor League Career
On July 14, 2009, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Alen Hanson as an international free agent for 90.00 K USD. He began his Minor League Baseball career in 2010 with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates, where he played 68 games, hitting for a .324 average with 2 home runs, 28 RBIs, seven triples, and 20 stolen bases. In 2011, he continued with the GCL Pirates and also played for the A-level State College Spikes. Across both teams, he played 55 games, achieving a .260 average, 2 home runs, 35 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. His seven triples in 2011 led the Gulf Coast League.
In July 2012, Hanson was recognized as the 40th-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America in their Midseason Top 50 Prospects List. He spent the 2012 season with the Pirates' Class A affiliate, the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League.
Hanson had a strong season for the Power, playing 124 games and hitting .309 with 16 home runs, 62 RBIs, 13 triples, 39 stolen bases, 55 walks, and 99 runs scored. He was named an All-Star and tied his personal best for stolen bases.
Prior to the 2013 season, Hanson was ranked as the 54th-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com and the 61st-best by Baseball America. He began the 2013 season with the High-A Bradenton Marauders, where he hit .281 with seven home homes, 48 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 92 games. On July 28, Hanson was promoted to the Pirates' Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve. In 35 games with the Curve during the 2013 season, he hit .255 with 10 RBIs, 6 stolen bases, and one home run. On November 20, 2013, Hanson was added to the Pirates' 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Hanson spent the entire 2014 season with the Curve. In 118 games, he hit .280 with 11 home runs, 64 RBIs, 12 triples, and 25 stolen bases. In August 2014, the Pirates announced a significant positional change, moving Hanson, primarily a shortstop, to second base. This decision was influenced by his 61 errors committed in 227 games across the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Larry Broadway, the Pirates' Director of Minor League Operations, explained that the move aimed to increase Hanson's versatility, suggesting he might still play shortstop in the future but that adding second base would provide more opportunities at the Major League level.
In 2015, Hanson spent the entire season with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians. In 117 games for the Indians, he hit .263 with six home runs, 43 RBIs, and 12 triples. He also stole 35 bases, again tying his personal best. Entering the 2016 season, MLB.com ranked Hanson as the 10th-best prospect in the Pirates organization and the 6th-best prospect among second basemen. He began the 2016 season back with the Indianapolis Indians.
1.1.2. Major Debut and Stint
On May 16, 2016, the Pirates promoted Hanson to the major league club following Starling Marte's paternity leave. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle indicated that Hanson would return to the minors upon Marte's return but would likely be recalled later in the season, emphasizing that Hanson still needed to prove himself in Triple-A. Hanson humorously recounted that when he called his mother to share the news, she accidentally hung up in excitement and celebrated, leaving him waiting in silence for nearly 10 minutes.
Hanson made his Major League Baseball debut on May 17, striking out in a pinch-hit appearance. The very next day, May 18, he recorded his first MLB hit, reaching base on an infield hit after entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the 5th inning. He stated his intention to send the ball to his home in the Dominican Republic as a gift for his mother.
Without any remaining minor league options, Hanson began the 2017 season on the Pirates' MLB roster. However, he was designated for assignment (DFA) on June 2, 2017.
1.2. Chicago White Sox
On June 9, 2017, the Chicago White Sox claimed Alen Hanson off waivers. He was subsequently added to the team's 25-man roster the following day. Hanson played 69 games for the White Sox in 2017. On December 1, 2017, Hanson was non-tendered, making him a free agent.
1.3. San Francisco Giants
Alen Hanson signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on December 22, 2017, which included a non-roster invitation to spring training. He started the 2018 season with the Sacramento River Cats, the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. On April 28, after starting second baseman Joe Panik sustained a hand injury, Hanson was promoted to the major league roster. At the time of his call-up, he had been hitting .403 with five doubles and three home runs in 62 at-bats for the River Cats. On March 28, 2019, Hanson was designated for assignment after he did not make the Opening Day roster.
1.4. Toronto Blue Jays
On April 2, 2019, Alen Hanson was part of a trade, moving from the Giants to the Toronto Blue Jays along with Derek Law and Juan De Paula, in exchange for Kevin Pillar. Hanson was called up by the Blue Jays on April 4. However, his stint was brief; he was designated for assignment on May 3. He was then outrighted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on May 7. Hanson was ultimately released by the Blue Jays organization on August 3, 2019, having hit only .163 in 18 games for the team.
1.5. Seattle Mariners
On January 23, 2020, Alen Hanson signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners, which included an invitation to spring training. He was released by the Mariners organization on June 25, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the minor league season, he did not appear in any official games that year. On June 17, 2021, Hanson re-signed with the Mariners on a new minor league contract, assigned to the Tacoma Rainiers. However, he did not receive an MLB call-up during the 2021 season and elected free agency on November 7, 2021. In 2022, Hanson did not join any professional team due to abdominal discomfort, but he recovered by the summer and resumed playing in the Dominican Winter League.
1.6. Ibaraki Astro Planets (Japan Independent League)
In March 2023, Alen Hanson signed with the Ibaraki Astro Planets of Japan's independent Baseball Challenge League for the 2023 season. His registration name in Japan was "Hanson" (ハンソンJapanese). The team's General Manager, Toma Irokawa, made a significant effort to acquire Hanson, engaging in two months of negotiations to secure the contract just before the season began. Irokawa's motivation was to provide an opportunity for an MLB-experienced utility player like Hanson to appeal to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) teams, testing the demand for such talent in the Japanese professional league. Hanson played as the third hitter and shortstop for Ibaraki, appearing in 8 games and recording a .233 batting average with 1 home run, 6 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases by May 6.
1.7. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (NPB)
On May 8, 2023, Alen Hanson's pursuit of an NPB contract was realized as he signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was assigned jersey number 94. The Fighters had a pressing need for a versatile infielder due to multiple key position players, including Kotaro Kiyomiya, Kazunari Ishii, Go Matsumoto, and Ryota Isofata, being sidelined with injuries. Hanson's acquisition was seen as an emergency reinforcement to address these absences.
Hanson made his debut in the Eastern League (the Fighters' farm team) on May 10, playing as the 6th hitter and shortstop against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars' farm team, where he recorded his first hit in his third at-bat. He was then promoted to the first team on May 13. He made his NPB first team debut on May 13 against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Es Con Field Hokkaido, appearing as a pinch-hitter for Arismendy Alcántara in the 6th inning, though he struck out. During this game, which featured a special uniform, he borrowed a uniform from teammate Jonathon Ganth.
On May 19, in a game against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome Osaka, Hanson recorded his first hit and RBI in Japan, delivering a timely right-field single as a pinch-hitter for Tatsuki Mizuno in the 8th inning. His first home run in Japan came on May 24, a solo shot off Tsuyoshi Wada of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Es Con Field, while batting second as the designated hitter. However, his performance subsequently declined, marked by a streak of 20 consecutive at-bats without a hit. Hanson concluded his NPB stint with 39 games played, a .144 batting average, 4 home runs, and 9 RBIs. On October 30, 2023, his departure from the team was officially announced.
1.8. Conspiradores de Querétaro (Mexican League)
On February 22, 2024, Alen Hanson signed with the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League. In 80 appearances for Querétaro, he has posted a batting line of .335 average, .375 on-base percentage, and .552 slugging percentage, alongside 16 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases.
2. International Career
Alen Hanson has been active in international baseball, including playing in winter leagues and being eligible for national team representation. In the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 seasons, Hanson played winter ball with the Toros del Este in the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM).
In 2020, Hanson was selected to the French national baseball team roster for the 2021 World Baseball Classic qualifier in Arizona. Despite being born in the Dominican Republic, he is eligible to play for Team France due to his French ancestry (his mother holds French nationality). However, the tournament was ultimately cancelled and postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing his participation. In 2024, Hanson represented the Dominican Republic national baseball team in the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament.
3. Career Statistics and Achievements
3.1. Batting Statistics
| Year | Games | PA | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SH | SF | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | DP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | PIT | 27 | 33 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | .226 | .273 | .258 | .531 |
| 2017 | 37 | 59 | 57 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | .193 | .220 | .263 | .483 | |
| CWS | 69 | 175 | 160 | 28 | 37 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 60 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 5 | .231 | .276 | .375 | .651 | |
| '17 Total | 106 | 234 | 217 | 36 | 48 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 75 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 5 | .221 | .262 | .346 | .607 | |
| 2018 | SF | 110 | 310 | 294 | 36 | 74 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 125 | 39 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 71 | 4 | .252 | .274 | .425 | .699 |
| 2019 | TOR | 18 | 48 | 43 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 | .163 | .229 | .163 | .392 |
| 2023 | Nippon-Ham | 39 | 96 | 90 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | .144 | .188 | .311 | .499 |
| MLB Career Totals (4 years) | 261 | 625 | 585 | 82 | 136 | 27 | 8 | 12 | 215 | 55 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 145 | 9 | .232 | .266 | .368 | .633 | |
| NPB Career Totals (1 year) | 39 | 96 | 90 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | .144 | .188 | .311 | .499 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2023 season.
3.2. Defensive Statistics
; Infield Defense
| Year | Team | First Base (1B) | Second Base (2B) | Third Base (3B) | Shortstop (SS) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | Games | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | Games | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | Games | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | ||
| 2016 | PIT | - | 8 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 6 | .923 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | - | 15 | 20 | 30 | 1 | 7 | .980 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | ||||||
| CWS | - | 13 | 13 | 37 | 0 | 7 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | - | |||||||||||
| '17 Total | - | 28 | 33 | 67 | 1 | 14 | .990 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | ||||||
| 2018 | SF | - | 45 | 70 | 88 | 4 | 24 | .975 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 1 | .947 | 16 | 16 | 33 | 0 | 6 | 1.000 | |||||
| 2019 | TOR | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 1.000 | - | - | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Nippon-Ham | - | 8 | 9 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | - | 9 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 3 | .929 | ||||||||||
| MLB Totals | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 89 | 127 | 179 | 7 | 49 | .978 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 1 | .952 | 18 | 19 | 35 | 0 | 8 | 1.000 | |
| NPB Totals | - | 8 | 9 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | - | 9 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 3 | .929 | |||||||||||
; Outfield Defense
| Year | Team | Center Field (CF) | Left Field (LF) | Right Field (RF) | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | Games | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | Games | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | ||
| 2017 | PIT | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | ||||||||||
| CWS | 11 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | .909 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 18 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .960 | |
| '17 Total | 11 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | .909 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 20 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .960 | |
| 2018 | SF | - | 18 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |||||
| 2019 | TOR | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 5 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .909 | |||||
| MLB Totals | 11 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | .909 | 27 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .935 | 27 | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .949 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2023 season.
3.3. Major Records and Milestones
3.3.1. First NPB Records
- First appearance and at-bat: May 13, 2023, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Es Con Field Hokkaido, appearing as a pinch-hitter in the 6th inning against Atsuya Hirohata, resulting in a swing and miss strikeout.
- First start: May 16, 2023, against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Es Con Field Hokkaido, starting as the 7th hitter and designated hitter.
- First hit and RBI: May 19, 2023, against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome Osaka, an RBI single to right field off Shota Abe in the 8th inning.
- First home run: May 24, 2023, against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Es Con Field Hokkaido, a solo home run to left field off Tsuyoshi Wada in the 1st inning.
- First stolen base: June 19, 2023, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium, stealing second base (pitcher: Takahiro Kamichatani, catcher: Yudai Yamamoto) in the 2nd inning.
3.4. Jersey Numbers
Alen Hanson has worn several jersey numbers throughout his professional career:
- 59 (2016, Pittsburgh Pirates)
- 37 (2017, Pittsburgh Pirates, first part of season)
- 39 (2017, Chicago White Sox, latter part of season)
- 19 (2018-2019, San Francisco Giants, first part of 2019 season)
- 1 (2019, Toronto Blue Jays, latter part of 2019 season)
- 26 (2023, Ibaraki Astro Planets, until May 8)
- 94 (2023, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, from May 8 until the end of the season)