Alex Hassan

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Alex was the 20th round selection in the 2009 draft. He was a junior at Duke and most recently played for Orleans in the Cape League. Both at Duke and with Orleans, Alex played RF and worked as the closer. At 6'4" 215, Alex was drafted as a pitcher. It was at Fenway for the Cape League All-Star Game prior to officially signing that Jason MacLeod told Alex that the Sox were now planning on using him as a position player.

At Duke, Alex hit either in the leadoff spot or the 3-hole. This past season he hit .342 with 3 HR's and 30 RBI. He lead a much improved Duke team with 56 runs scored and 17 2B's. As a pitcher, he was 2-2 with a 4.10 era and 8 saves. In 26.1 IP, he gave up 23 hits, 14 BB's, and recorded 34 K's. He tops out at 91-92 MPH with a plus curveball. In 2008, Alex won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. He went 112 games without an error at Duke.

Duke Stats

Alex has been assigned to the Lowell Spinners. In his first 7 games since signing, he has a hit in every game and is tearing it up at a .448 clip. He has played RF and batted 7th in each of his first seven games with the Spinners.

Spinners Stats

Alex is a local product from Milton, MA. He attended BC High and pitched Milton Post 114 to the Legion World Series in 2006.
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Following a 1-4, 2 RBI game tonight, Alex has been promoted to Greenville.

He hit .350 in his 17 games with the Spinners. No link on the transaction yet, as he was told after tonight's game in Lowell.

Congratulations Alex!
 

Drivfan08

New Member
Aug 20, 2009
7
QUOTE (gradyphobe @ Aug 20 2009, 11:10 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2520291
Following a 1-4, 2 RBI game tonight, Alex has been promoted to Greenville.

He hit .350 in his 17 games with the Spinners. No link on the transaction yet, as he was told after tonight's game in Lowell.

Congratulations Alex!



I look forward to meeting him in Greenville on Tuesday after the end of the road trip. I'll try to help out with any updates.
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Alex goes 1-3 with a 2B, RBI and run scored in his second game with the Drive. Greenville sweeps the DH with WV Power.
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Greenville loses again. Alex went 1-4 with a run scored. His average stays at .250 over his first 5 games with the Drive.
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
In yet another Greenvile loss, Hassan went 2-3, 2B, run scored, and 2 RBI. His averages is up to .304 with the Drive.
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Alex went 1-4 with a triple in the Greenville win.

Following the game, Alex was sent back to Lowell with Greenville etting healthy. This was not due to his performance, as he hit .313 in his 8 games with the Drive.

AVG: .313
Games: 8
AB: 32
RUNS: 6
HITS: 10
2B: 3
3B: 1
HR: 1
RBI: 7
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Back at Lowell, Alex continues to be a productive hitter. He hit his 2nd professional HR last night, going 1-3 with the HR and a BB. His avg. is at .326 for Lowell, and he has been hitting in the 2-hole for the last 4 games.
 

Quintanariffic

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2002
5,141
The City of Studios
After a lousy start due to God knows what, Hassan has been raking in his last 10, to the tune of a .333/.474/.533 line after his first two PA tonight.
 

Cuzittt

Bouncing with Anger
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 20, 2001
20,301
Sinister Funkhouse #17
QUOTE (crazybird1 @ Jun 25 2010, 02:43 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=3045519
Does the fact that he got bumped all the way to triple A mean the organization doesn't view him as a legit prospect? It seems that doing that to a prospect could hinder their development.


Not necessarily. It does mean they view him as more fungible than someone like Che-Hsuan Lin. But, it also means that they think he is mature enough to handle the jump and what it actually means.

For example, they jumped Robert Coello from Salem to Pawtucket last season for a game. I don't think it hurt him at all... in fact it may have helped him in the organizations eyes. They did the same thing with TJ Large in 2006 (it was even a larger jump... from Greenville to Pawtucket). TJ is still in the organization and is in Pawtucket for good now.
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
After a brutal April (.140 BA, .507 OPS), Alex has turned it on. He hit his 1st career grand slam tonight (HR #4). His season avg is up to .257, with July checking in at .317 and a .990 OPS.
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Another good night for Al, going 2-4 with a HR(5), and 4 RBI. Over his last 10 games, he hitting .406, 3 HR, 11 RBI, and a 1.286 OPS.
 

champain2002

New Member
Jan 14, 2008
299
Hassan has been the cat lately. He hit .329 in July and went 6-for-14 with a double, a homer, three RBIs and four walks in his first four games of August. Hassan credited hitting coach Carlos Febles, "and not just because he just walked by. Even when I was struggling at the beginning of the season, he was fun to be around," Hassan said. "He was able to instill confidence in me. That's big, still feeling comfortable despite what's happening."

Part of the increase in RBIs, Hassan pointed out, comes from moving up in the batting order after some call-ups to Double-A.
Katrina Waugh in the August 7th Red Sox Report. Roanoke Times
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Alex extended his hitting streak to 13 games and has reached base safely in 20 games. He is hitting .433 in August, with a 1.165 OPS, after hitting .329 in July, with a .965 OPS. His season average is now up to .287 and his OPS is .845.

The bandwagon has plenty of room on it. The way he has performed, really, since mid-May, has vaulted him up to a true prospect level.
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
The hitting streak reaches 15 tonight. Alex was PR for in the 7th inning of game 2 tonight. I'm unsure if it was injury related.

Alex was also featured in a Q & A posted on Soxprospects today. It is linked below.

Q & A with Alex Hassan
 

gradyphobe

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
52
Alex had an RBI in both games yesterday vs. BC and NU, with Sac fly's in both. He is expected to start the year in Portland. It was a rough offseason from a personal standpoint, but professionally it was very positive. He was named an organizational all-star as an outfielder.
 

jnlevetoncnmt

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
522
Gainesville, Florida
Alex deserves a bump. He has a 400/491/533/1.024 line after 90 at bats in AA. 17BB vs 11K (good) only 1hr (bad). Just turned 23.

Since he used to be a pitcher in college maybe he could one day have that Dave McCarty role as a relief pitcher/outfielder. He could pitch in the occasional game where Lackey melts down since we shall have to endure that for a few more years.
 

behindthepen

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 26, 2005
6,236
Section 41
Alex is at an Eastern League leading 374/484/553 right now after 153 PA.
24 BB
14 K
3 HR

Looks like he's mainly been playing LF.
 

SoxScout

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 19, 2003
30,149
Season Age Team PA AVG OBP SLG OPS HR SB wRC+ BB% K% BB/K ISO BABIP
2009 21 Red Sox (A-) 103 .333 .382 .441 .823 1 1 140 8% 12% 0.73 .108 .366
2010 22 Red Sox (A+) 411 .287 .397 .456 .853 8 6 142 14% 20% 0.83 .170 .335
2011 23 Red Sox (AA) 153 .374 .484 .553 1.037 3 5 203 16% 11% 1.71 .179 .398


While his BA is coming down, obviously, his power and discipline have been getting better as the season is going on. His K% the last 15 games is like 6%.

He is #1 in the EL in wOBA at .473, next is .441. wRC+, which is park and league adjusted, he leads at 203 with the next highest at 182.
 

brace

New Member
Jun 29, 2011
13
AVG: .323
OBP: .447
SLG: .486
OPS: .933
SO: 44
BB: 51
RBI: 41
Games: 72
AB's: 251

Mostly playing LF in Portland, but has a handfull in right as well.

From Mark Normandin of SB Nation: Link

"Alex Hassan is an intriguing prospect. He certainly has patience, as he has posted a career minor league on-base percentage of .407 despite hitting "just" .302 there, but the Milton, Massachusetts native hasn't shown a ton of power at any level. He does have excellent plate discipline, there is no denying that, and he controls the strike zone well (44 strikeouts against 49 walks this year). There is the urge to compare him to Kevin Youkilis, as the Portland Sea Dogs announcers did in last night's game, but when comps aren't perfect, there isn't any reason to use them.

I'm not sure this one is perfect, either. There is a very real chance we just want Hassan to be Youkilis, because hey, why wouldn't we want another one of those guys who is going to come into their power and be one of the top hitters in the majors after impressive displays of plate discipline in the minors?

That isn't to say Hassan isn't worth paying attention to, just that we should look at him for who he is instead of who we want him to be. It makes for clearer and more realistic projections. He knows the strike zone, and can do some damage with pitches that he swings at, and can avoid the strikeout. There is a lot to like there, even if he hasn't made his way onto any top prospects lists."

Hassan was drafted in 2009, and has never struggled at any level. He has always put up very similar lines from level-to-level and year-to-year, and for this, he should be commended. He's 23 years old in the Eastern League right now (read: the same age as Ryan Kalish and one year younger than Josh Reddick), so, like Wilson, I'm interested in seeing what he does when he climbs that last rung of the minor league ladder."
 

Quintanariffic

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2002
5,141
The City of Studios
It's also worth noting that Youkilis came up as a 3B, so he had more defensive value. Hassan, by all accounts, is only a LF (and an avg one at that), so his bat is going to have to carry him.
 

John DiFool

Member
SoSH Member
May 12, 2007
1,179
Jacksonville, Florida
Why doesn't this guy get any respect? Sox Prospects has him at #26, which is unbelievable for a 23 year old AA outfielder with an OBP over .400 and who has good power. Despite his excellent season the Sox brass haven't promoted him to Pawtucket. Are his "tools" <ahem> subpar or something?
 

SoxScout

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 19, 2003
30,149
Hassan really sticks out as one of the 24 non-roster invitees, along with Alex Wilson.

Here's the complete list of non-roster invitees: left-handed pitchers Jesse Carlson, Rich Hill and Justin Thomas; right-handers Scott Atchison, Aaron Cook, Brandon Duckworth, Justin Germano, Will Inman, Doug Mathis, Ross Ohlendorf, Vicente Padilla, Tony Pena Jr., Carlos Silva, Chorye Spoone and Alex Wilson; catchers Daniel Butler and Max St. Pierre; outfielders Alex Hassan, Josh Kroeger, Juan Carlos Linares and Jason Repko; and infielders Pedro Ciriaco, Mauro Gomez and Nate Spears.
 

jnlevetoncnmt

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
522
Gainesville, Florida
With Crawford starting on the DL(I assume), does Alex have any chance of making the team for LF? Or did they just invite him to camp so he can get a taste of big league pitching?
 

SoxScout

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 19, 2003
30,149
Maybe because they didn't think Crawford was going to be available to do drills and needed a body? No idea.

Between Ross, Sweeney, McDonald... there is no chance they are going to have Hassan play. Lin is on the 40-man so he would get a shot if needed before Kalish is ready. Hassan does need to be added to the 40-man after this season, but I don't see him forcing his way on before then.

He also really cooled down in the 2H of last year, so that's something to watch.
 
Nov 13, 2003
1,558
Connecticut
It still boggles my mind that Lin is on the 40-man..... The only thing he brings to the table is speed and defense, so unless his future is as a defensive replacement/pinch runner I don't see the need to waste a spot on him. I rather use the spot on someone who actually has a shot at contributing to the big club.....

I suspect that Lin is one of the first to go as camp breaks and decisions are made..
 

SoxScout

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 19, 2003
30,149
It boggles your mind that the Red Sox want to keep maybe the best CF on Earth, who has speed, a gun, good contact skills and an excellent eye?

Even without power teams would be lining up for him. I see 7 players on the current 40-man who should be more worried about their spot than Lin.
 

SoxScout

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 19, 2003
30,149
I thought Bowden, Carpenter, Miller, Mortensen, Exposito, Anderson, McDonald when I looked quick, didn't include 60-DL guys.

Doesn't really matter the 5-7 players or whatever... I was just point out it seemed crazy to me that someone thought he wasn't deserving.
 
Nov 13, 2003
1,558
Connecticut
I think it's silly to put Anderson, Miller, Carpenter, Mcdonald, Bowden on that list when they'd all be called up or possibly even make the team out of ST before Lin would. Expo is the third catcher (depending on how you vew Lavarnway's defense). Tejada and Pimental are prospects being protected from the rule-5... Lin is AAA organizational filler

I can list fringe guys too it doesn't make it true.

Lin is like having Joey Gathright last season. His skill set is so limited.

Saying Lin is the best CF on Earth is probably one of (if not) the dumbest things I have ever seen posted on this board.

Lin makes Ellsbury look like Willie Mays
 

JakeRae

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 21, 2005
8,125
New York, NY
I think it's silly to put Anderson, Miller, Carpenter, Mcdonald, Bowden on that list when they'd all be called up or possibly even make the team out of ST before Lin would. Expo is the third catcher (depending on how you vew Lavarnway's defense). Tejada and Pimental are prospects being protected from the rule-5... Lin is AAA organizational filler

I can list fringe guys too it doesn't make it true.

Lin is like having Joey Gathright last season. His skill set is so limited.

Saying Lin is the best CF on Earth is probably one of (if not) the dumbest things I have ever seen posted on this board.

Lin makes Ellsbury look like Willie Mays
Lin is definitely not organizational filler. He is entering his age 23 season, plays excellent outfield defense and has a cannon, made it to AAA in his age 22 season, and has a career .095 ISO BB in the minors with no signs of struggling to maintain that rate as his level has increased.

The downside is that he struggles to hit for average and has no power. But, if he can improve his average a bit, .280/.370/.380 as a Gold Glove caliber center fielder (or right fielder) is not out of the question. That is not a projection, but more of a ceiling. His projection is more like .240/.330/.320, which would still be useful as a defensively focused 5th outfielder. His floor isn't too far away from that projection either. Lin is very likely to have a real MLB career.

Also, you commented that Tejeda and Pimental are on the 40-man for Rule 5 protection. Why do you think Lin is there? Except, unlike the other two, where there would've been some chance of them not getting drafted since either would be useless in MLB right now, Lin could easily fill the 5th outfielder slot on a lot of MLB teams this year.

Edit: In that last paragraph when I wrote of a chance of Tejeda or Pimental not getting drafted, I meant that they might not stick. Either would almost certainly get drafted.
 

C4CRVT

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 29, 2008
3,076
Heart of the Green Mountains
Saying Lin is the best CF on Earth is probably one of (if not) the dumbest things I have ever seen posted on this board.

Lin makes Ellsbury look like Willie Mays
I don't think I have a dog in this fight (other than Hassan who I'm a huge fan of but alas, we're not here in his thread to talk about him) but this be some bold talk. I haven't watched Lin play CF, have you? Everything I've read says he gets a great jump, has tremendous speed, makes catches look easy and has a rocket cannon arm. That's reading only of course. Can you share your experience that leads you to post this kind of statement?
 

SoxScout

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 19, 2003
30,149
Saying Lin is the best CF on Earth is probably one of (if not) the dumbest things I have ever seen posted on this board.
Ok. And I said, "maybe."

Lin makes Ellsbury look like Willie Mays
Well, you just topped it.

Sorry this Hassan thread got off topic. Not worth the discussion if that is your definitive statement on Lin.
 
Nov 13, 2003
1,558
Connecticut
Being a CF is a lot more than just defense..... You didn't say that Lin is the best Defensive CF on earth...

I have no problem admitting that Lin is a Elite defensive CF, but he has a noodle bat. His most comparable player is probably Iglesias, although I don't think Lin is as good a CF as Iglesias is a SS.

This is silly, my point was that Hassan would be more useful on the 40 man roster than Lin and I still believe that. Hassan has hit at every level and we already have an elite CF in the major leagues. Not to mention two or 3 backups that can fill in as CF's if Ells gets dinged up.

you are obviously overrating defense and I'm putting more weight in Offense. I said Lin is useful as a Pinch runner/ Defensive replacement and while there is some value in that, I'd rather have a guy who can competently handle the bat.

So yes if you are counting Offense (a huge part of baseball) then LIn makes Ellsbury look like Willie Mays..
 

OttoC

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2003
7,353
To get back to Alex Hassan, he hasn't impressed me as an outfielder in the several games I saw him play last season.