Hanson lost on waivers to White Sox

Alen Hanson's time with the Pirates has come to an end.

Hanson, an infielder who was once seen as a future everyday second baseman in the organization, was claimed off waivers by the White Sox on Friday. He was designated for assignment by the Pirates one week earlier — two years after MLB.com named him the No. 5 prospect in the organization.



Hanson appeared in 37 games for the Pirates in 2017, batting .193 with nine strikeouts and 11 hits in 59 plate appearances. He was designated for assignment as part of the team's bench shakeup, which also included the demotion of Gift Ngoepe to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Hanson joined the organization in 2010 and rose slowly through the system, reaching Triple-A in 2015. He made his major league debut May 16, 2016, but was never the threat on the base paths the Pirates envisioned and struggled in the field.

He is only 24 years old, but was out of minor league options. The Pirates had to pass him through waivers to try to retain his rights. Hanson batted .264 in 227 career games for Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Pirates would have preferred to trade him, but the organization is not lacking infield depth. second baseman Kevin Kramer and shortstop Kevin Newman are both in Altoona, and shortstop Cole Tucker and third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes are in Bradenton.

The Pirates are not bult to sustain an injury to a middle infielder, though. Max Moroff and Phil Gosselin were recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis when Hanson and Ngoepe were demoted. They could turn to Ngoepe, but the shortstop is just 3 for 24 in seven games back with the Indians.

Three of the Pirates' top 10 prospects in 2015 are now no longer with the organization. They traded catcher Reese McGuire and outfielder Harold Ramirez to the Blue Jays last August, a move to shed the salary of Francisco Liriano and to acquire starting pitcher Drew Hutchison.

Hutchison is 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 11 starts at Triple-A Indianapolis this season. McGuire and Ramirez are currently batting .216 and .236, respectively, for the Blue Jays' Double-A affiliate.