Danner garnered scouts as a pitcher and catcher before the 2017 Draft, but the Blue Jays loved him behind the plate and selected him in the second round out of Huntington Beach High School in California.
Danner hit just.191 with a.633 OPS in 146 games as a catcher from 2017 to 2019, indicating that a change was necessary.
Danner was re-evaluated as a pitcher by the Blue Jays in ’20, and he made his Minor League pitching debut in ’21, which he performed admirably.
Danner made an early impact in High-A Vancouver, where he pitched to a 2.02 ERA in 35 2/3 innings while striking out 42 batters.
It was enough to persuade the Blue Jays to add him to their 40-man roster this offseason, far sooner than anyone could have predicted.
Last fall, Danner’s fastball was in the mid-90s, and he even hit 100 mph at instructs. His slider is still a work in progress that sits in the mid-80s, but it has the potential to be a legitimate out pitch in the Major Leagues.
Danner’s two plus pitches, if they continue to improve, could be enough to get him to the majors.
This is one of the system’s most interesting development cases. In ’22, Danner will be put to the test by more skilled batters, which will be a valuable learning experience for a pitcher who is still so young professionally.
However, the skill is there for him to continue his meteoric rise, and his velocity, if he continues to flirt with triple digits, will be tempting for MLB clubs.
Danner isn’t 24 until late September, so the Blue Jays may have stumbled onto a hidden gem.
How Tall Is Hagen Danner?
Hagen Danner stands at a height of 1.85 m.