Justin Hancock Explained

Justin Hancock
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:28 October 1990
Birth Place:Defiance, Ohio, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:May 9
Debutyear:2018
Debutteam:Chicago Cubs
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:March 30
Debut2year:2019
Debut2team:Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:0–0
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:1.46
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:11
Stat2league:NPB
Stat21label:Win–loss record
Stat21value:0–1
Stat22label:Earned run average
Stat22value:9.00
Stat23label:Strikeouts
Stat23value:8
Teams:

Justin David Hancock (born October 28, 1990) is an American baseball coach and former pitcher, who is the current pitching coach of the Indiana State Syacamores. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Career

Amateur career

Before playing professionally, Hancock attended Defiance High School in Defiance, Ohio. He then attended Lincoln Trail College, where he was named All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference in 2011.[1] His fastball has been clocked at .[2]

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres selected Hancock in the ninth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed for a bonus of $100,000. After going 0–3 with a 7.09 earned run average (ERA) to begin his career, Hancock posted a 3.30 ERA in 28 games (16 starts) between the Eugene Emeralds and Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2012.

In 2013, he was 8–8 with a 3.38 mark in 26 starts between Fort Wayne and the Lake Elsinore Storm. While with Fort Wayne, he went 5–1 with a 1.73.[3]

In 2014, he went 3–2 with a 3.92 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) for the AZL Padres and San Antonio Missions.[4] He was sent to pitch in the Arizona Fall League following the 2014 campaign.[5] [6]

Chicago Cubs

In 2017, the Padres traded Hancock to the Chicago Cubs for Matt Szczur.[7]

The Cubs promoted him to the major leagues and he made his debut on May 9, 2018.[8] He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 30, 2018.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

On December 5, 2018, Hancock signed a one-year contract with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)[9] for an estimated ¥70 million.[10]

On October 11, 2019, Fighters announced that team had not signed with Hancock for next season.[11] On October 18, 2019, he become free agent.[12]

Coaching career

In July 2021, Hancock joined the Indiana State baseball program as an assistant coach; in his role, he will work primarily with Sycamore pitchers.[13]

Personal life

Hancock is married to Tessa, a former college women's basketball player.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MiLB.com. November 19, 2014.
  2. Web site: Craig Pearson . Former South sharpshooter hoping to root husband to the big leagues | Sports . tribstar.com . July 8, 2017 . April 8, 2019.
  3. Web site: San Diego Padres MLB Baseball Front Page. scout.com. February 11, 2015.
  4. Web site: BR Minors page. Baseball-Reference.com. November 19, 2014.
  5. Web site: Padres Sending Seven Prospects to the Arizona Fall League. Surf Turf and Murph. August 26, 2014 . November 19, 2014.
  6. Web site: www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/18/padres-arizona-fall-league-prospects-update/. U-T San Diego. November 19, 2014.
  7. Web site: Cubs trade Matt Szczur to Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Justin Hancock. May 8, 2017. csnchicago.com. June 2, 2017.
  8. Web site: Former Lincoln Trail College standout Justin Hancock gets called up by Cubs Sports tribstar.com. May 9, 2018.
  9. Web site: ジャスティン・ハンコック投手と契約合意 . 北海道日本ハムファイターズ 公式サイト . Japanese . December 5, 2018 . April 4, 2019 .
  10. News: Fighters acquire former Cubs pitcher Justin Hancock. The Japan Times. December 5, 2018. December 6, 2018.
  11. Web site: ハンコック、バーベイト投手退団のお知らせ . 北海道日本ハムファイターズ オフィシャルサイト . Japanese . October 11, 2019 . January 12, 2020 .
  12. Web site: 2019年度 自由契約選手 . NPB.jp 日本野球機構 . Japanese . January 12, 2020 .
  13. Web site: Justin Hancock - Baseball Coach .
  14. Web site: Switch to relief pitching paves way for Cubs' Justin Hancock to reach major leagues . Chicago Tribune . April 8, 2019.