Kansas City Royals: Jesse Hahn struggling in spring training
The Kansas City Royals are nearly three weeks into spring training and one player not having an impressive camp is pitcher Jesse Hahn.
Jesse Hahn has pitched in four spring training games for the Kansas City Royals, throwing four innings and allowing five earned runs, two walks, and striking out just one batter. He’s currently sitting with an ERA of 11.25 and WHIP of 2.25.
Hahn hasn’t been what the Royals were hoping for when they acquired him via trade with the Athletics along with Heath Fillmyer in exchange for Ryan Buchter, Brandon Moss, and cash considerations. He’s been banged up a lot, but also just hasn’t been that good, tossing just 4.2 innings in 2019 and getting hit hard in those innings.
Hahn allowed seven earned runs in those 4.2 innings last year, good for a 13.50 ERA and 2.78 WHIP. He walked six batters and managed to strike out seven in limited action. He spent most of the season sidelined with injuries and when he did come back, the product on the field wasn’t great.
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The hope for Hahn when the Royals acquired him in 2018 was that he could be either a fifth starter in the rotation or maybe a long relief option out of the bullpen. He didn’t start for the Royals in 2019 and at this point, would only be used in a reliever role, but it’s not looking good for Hahn to even make the roster.
Prior to spring training, Cody Rickman of KC Kingdom predicted who he thought would make the Royals bullpen in 2020 and he had Hahn as a middle reliever or potentially as an opener, a strategy the Royals could opt to roll with this season under new manager Mike Matheny. At this point, it’s going to have to be quite the turnaround from Hahn in order to make the roster.
Jordan Foote of Kings of Kauffman wrote about how Hahn would be the “ultimate redemption story”, writing,
"At the age of 30, we can’t continue making excuses for the potential of his pitches and his resume that is now years old without being updated much. The organization brought him back this year for a reason, and that reason was to see if he can complete the ultimate redemption story."
Foote hit the nail on the head. Hahn is 30 years old and past his prime for sure, but this team did opt to bring him back and that’s likely because they believe he can be a legitimate threat out of the bullpen. If he doesn’t start improving in spring training, however, then it might be time for the Kansas City Royals to put an end to the Jesse Hahn experiment.
What do you think, Royals fans?