DEREK HANKINS

7/1/83; '04 10th; Univ. of Memphis
R/R; 6-4, 190

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	HR	BB	K	BB/9	K/9	WHIP	OAVG	ERA
2004 NCAA	8-5-0	15	15	92.1	96	13	25	114	2.44	11.11	1.31		4.58
2004 A-	6-4-0	14	14	83.0	72	9	14	57	1.52	6.18	1.04	.233	3.04
2005 A	6-6-0	27	27	156.1	176	17	43	118	2.48	6.79	1.40	.277	4.49
2006 A+	5-11-0	26	26	142.2	157	13	36	70	2.27	4.42	1.35	.284	4.73
2007 AA	0-1-0	1	1	3.2	4	1	5	2	12.30	4.92	2.46	.267	12.27
2007 A+	8-6-0	22	22	113.1	129	13	37	77	2.94	6.11	1.46	.289	5.24
2008 AA	2-11-0	24	23	119.0	135	14	26	89	1.97	6.73	1.35	.285	4.54

The Pirates have always seemed to like Hankins, although he's never posted impressive results. Some of the attraction undoubtedly is the tall, lean build, which the Pirates emphasized heavily in scouting pitchers under the prior regime. He was effective at Williamsport, but had a low K rate. He struggled after being Hickory's 2005 opening day starter, getting hit fairly hard and again posting a low K rate. He spent 2006 in Lynchburg's rotation and again struggled, with his K rate plummeting to an extremely low level for class A. Much of his trouble comes from LH batters, who posted an OPS nearly 200 points higher against him in 2006, with far higher BB and HR rates, than RH batters. Hankins supposedly throws a good change and curve—although his problems with LH batters call into question just how good his change is—and some scouts thought when he was drafted that he could add velocity to his 88-91 mph fastball. Returning to Lynchburg, he had largely the same year in 2007, with slightly higher HR and K rates. This time RH batters hit him a little better than LH. He also got bombed in one fill-in start for Altoona.

With the team's new management emphasizing the need to promote their own prospects more often and rely less on minor league free agents to boost the W/L records, Hankins got a spot in the Altoona rotation to start 2008. He pitched very well in April, missed much of May with an injury, then pitched well again in June. He then struggled through the last two months, posting a 5.37 ERA the rest of the way. His K rate improved a lot and his K/BB ratio was good, but he got hit hard. He had a reverse platoon split this time. He's a flyball pitcher and had a little trouble with gopher balls. Hankins is eligible for the Rule 5 draft but is very unlikely to be selected. He'll probably be back at Altoona in 2009.

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