Luke
Hanson

VA/DC Scout Blog

The Super 60 alum showcased some of his physical tools yesterday. Did not get much defensive work in game, but showcased the arm strength in pregame. Works through the catch, clean exchange, and carry on throws across. Throws on the run with accuracy and can throw from multiple slots. At the plate Hanson got into some plus counts during his second and third at bats. Hit a groundball to third in his second at bat and then turned on an elevated fastball down the line for a double. Hanson did a good job keeping his hands inside and hits against a firm front side with head behind at contact.

VA/DC Scout Blog

We talked about Hanson in length on Tuesday in the scout blog from his game against Jamestown  , but today we want to touch on his performance on the mound. Hanson has a normal effort delivery, full arm swing, and a loose three-quarter slot with some arm speed through release. The fastball was a little scattered in the first inning, but settled in nicely after that. Spotted the fastball to the glove side and down where he was successful. When he worked to the arm side it had some late run. The fastball stayed between 87-89 for the entirety of his seven innings on the mound and touched 90 twice and 91 once. The breaking ball was the separator during this outing. The curveball had varying shapes at times. When it was middle and arm side it was more 12/6 shape and when getting to the glove side it had 11/5 shape with some sweeping depth at times. The breaking ball got nothing but swings and misses and takes on the day and he showed advanced feel for it around the zone. It was control over command at 72-74 mph and he could throw it for a strike just about whenever he wanted to. Hanson had twelve strikeouts on the day and the later he got into the outing the strikeouts tended to be on the breaking ball. 

VA/DC Scout Blog

Cannot say enough about how this two sport star continues to shine. Hanson is a physical athlete standing at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Started at shortstop and probably has a better chance than just about any other shortstop in the state to stick there at the next level. Easy actions with a plus arm across the infield. Throws show carry and accuracy across. Has arm strength to make plays deep in the hole as well as ability to throw on the run with ease. At the plate Hanson has a balanced square stance, leg lift to stride, and hands load in rhythm. Level path to contact, hand and bat speed through the zone, and gains extension on contact. It is an easy fluid swing that simply put, it plays. Had a line drive single in the fourth inning and a leadoff triple in the bottom of the sixth that was the tying run. All of the physical talents that he possesses are visible, but the real tell is watching him before game, in the dugout, and on the field when he does not have any action. Hanson is a leader in every sense and I would imagine he benefits greatly from being the quarterback of a state champion football team. 

VA/DC Committed Combine

Hanson is 6-2 with an athletic frame that has some strength present and plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open balanced athletic stance, leg kick stride on line, smooth load back to a wrap. Hips rotate completely with violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Hands stay inside, quick to the ball, slightly uphill line drive swing, showed a good approach primarily working the middle of the field, strong at contact with extension through the ball, has some power present to pull side with chance to grow into more, exit velocity was 94. In the infield, good feet, rounds the ball and fields with a wider base and soft hands, works through ball to a quick clean exchange, throws from a lower three-quarters slot, loose arm action, position velocity was 87. Ran a 6.94 60 yard dash. On the mound, he throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short loose quick arm action and some effort to his drop and drive delivery. Shoulders are level and closed, lands square with a slight fall off finish. Fastball was 86-87, with some late hard armside run. Curveball was 70-71 and had sharp 11/5 break and good armspeed. Change-up was 77-79 with good armspeed and heavy sink with some run to it.

Preseason All-State III

Hanson is 6-2 with a lankier athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance, strides on line, loads back to a wrap. Hips rotate completely with violence and he maintains some lower half balance. Hands stay inside, short and quick to the ball, slightly uphill line drive swing, strong contact point with some extension through the ball, exit velocity was 92. In the infield, good quick feet, rounds the ball and fields with a good wide base and soft hands, quick clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, position velocity was 88. Ran a 6.94 60 yard dash. On the mound, he throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short loose quick arm action and some effort to his delivery. Shoulders are level and closed, lands square with a slight fall off finish. Fastball was 84-85, touching 86, with some late run to armside. Curveball had good armspeed and was 69-73 with sharp 11/5 break. Change-up had good armspeed and was 79-81 with heavy fade.

VA/DC Scout Blog

Big physical freshman with an athletic projectable frame standing around 6-foot-1. Hanson played shortstop for the Rams and displayed a present ability to play the left side at the next level. Had smooth active feet on approach, lateral quickness with solid angles, big accurate arm, and ability to throw from multiple slots. At the plate swing looks to be a work in progress and shows to be more of a contact swing right now, but shows the athleticism and strength to get more out of it as he matures. Hanson is going to be a definite prospect to follow over the next year or so.