Pirates A to Z: Eric Hanhold's fastball-slider mix presents 'a different look' for bullpen

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, with the final week focusing on players added after the season ended.

Player: Eric Hanhold

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Right

Bats: Right

Age: 28

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 210 pounds

2021 MLB statistics: Hanhold was 0-0 with a 6.97 ERA in 10 1/3 innings over 10 relief appearances for the Baltimore Orioles.

Contract: Not eligible for arbitration until 2025.

Acquired: Claimed off waivers from the Orioles on Nov. 3.

This past season: Hanhold had spent six seasons in the minor leagues — with three appearances for the New York Mets in 2018 his only major league experience — when the Orioles selected him from Triple-A Norfolk in mid-September.

Manny Bareda was optioned after giving up a 445-foot, three-run home run to Toronto’s Teoscar Hernandez in an 11-run seventh inning, so Hanhold took his spot on the active roster. Matt Harvey was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.

Eric Hanhold posts a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th. Fastball was at 96 mph with some late life. pic.twitter.com/6Re4YxlcQc

— Locked On Orioles (@LockedOnOrioles) March 7, 2021

Hanhold’s first and final outings for the Orioles — both against the Blue Jays — were disastrous.

In Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Blue Jays — a 22-7 loss — Hanhold entered in relief of Mike Baumann in the top of the sixth inning with one out and runners on first and second. Hanhold got Vladimir Guerrero to fly out, then gave up a single to Hernandez to load the bases, walked Lourdes Gurriel to give up one run, then surrendered RBI singles to Randal Grichuk and Danny Jensen to allow two more runs to score. Hanhold, however, recovered to retire the side in order in the seventh.

In his final appearance, Hanhold entered in the third inning at Toronto and gave up a single to Hernandez, who stole second and tagged to third on a Gurriel fly out to right. Hanhold walked Santiago Espinal, who advanced to second on a wild pitch; then hit Jensen with a pitch to load the bases. After Hanhold got Corey Dickerson to fly out to left, George Springer smashed a 412-foot grand slam to center.

In the eight appearances between those two games, however, Hanhold posted a 2.35 ERA in 7 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and one walk while striking out six. Opponents slashed .267/.290/.400 against him. The Orioles (52-110) lost all 10 of Hanhold’s appearances.

Hanhold was 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.69 WHIP at Norfolk, where he averaged 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings but allowed 5.5 walks. The Pirates saw potential in Hanhold, and claimed him off waivers.

Eric Hanhold shuts the door for his third save of the season! #TidesWin!

FINAL: Tides 4 - Gwinnett 2

Nick Ciuffo: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Tyler Joyner: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 K
Claudio Custodio: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K pic.twitter.com/dK2NhpVDsd

— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) June 27, 2021

The future: Hanhold throws his four-seam fastball — with a velocity sitting at 95 mph — for half of his pitches, even though it was hit for a .368 average and .684 slugging in the majors last season.

He has better whiff rates with his slider (34.5%) and changeup (33.3%) and also mixes in a sinker that he threw sparingly.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington noted that the 6-foot-5, 210-pound Hanhold, is “big and physical” with a four-pitch power mix that is “really interesting stuff.”

Hanhold will compete with Luis Oviedo, Duane Underwood Jr. and possibly Zach Thompson for a middle-relief role, with fellow righties David Bednar, Nick Mears and Chris Stratton likely to be used in high-leverage situations.

“Obviously, that hasn’t put it all together yet, but is a different look from the guys we have on the right side, four-seam, slider-type guys,” Cherington said. “He can sink it a little bit. Just a little bit of a different look out of the bullpen. Trying to add as much bullpen depth as we can, and he can fit into that.”