Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Hao Hang had a better week than you.
Even if you hit the lottery or scored tickets to a Mikki Manning concert, Hang’s week was still better.
Hao Hang
All told, he hit .519 with 7 homers, 18 RBIs and an OPS of 2.001 and won the Frick Player of the Week award.
See what we mean? Top that, if you can.
“That was a little crazy,” the 21-year-old right fielder told reporters. “I mean, I’ve had some good weeks at the plate, but wow. I think I surprised even myself.”
Of course, it’s not that big a surprise. Hang has been collecting awards at a dizzying pace ever since the Sox made him their first-round draft pick in 2039. Among a fistful of Player of the Week honors and All-Star Game selections, Hang was the runaway winner of the Sixto Mazzola Batter Award last season as the top player in the Class A Pegler League.
He stormed through AA and AAA competition to start this season, and was brought up to the big club in mid-June where he’s played solid baseball.
Still, fans have been waiting for the young phenom to catch fire and show the spectacular skills that had Sox management practically peeing themselves with excitement over the past couple of seasons.
The wait was over last week.
“That was just awesome to watch, wasn’t it?” asked first baseman Mark Simpson, who had a pretty good week himself as he hit his 400th career home run. “The nice thing about it was that it couldn’t happen to a better guy. Hao’s one of the hardest workers on the team, and just a pleasure to be around.”
Sox GM Vic Caleca echoed Simpson’s sentiments, and said team owner Vinnie Vitale was thrilled by Hang’s big week, too.
“There’s no bigger Sox fan than Vinnie, and he was over the moon with what Hao accomplished last week.”
Asked if Vinnie sent the youngster one of his trademark congratulatory pear towers to mark the occasion, Caleca chuckled.
“That thing rivaled the Eiffel Tower, man,” he said. “I think Vinnie must’ve hired a structural engineer to keep it from toppling over. Needless to say, our clubhouse looks like an orchard exploded inside it.”
Or, like Chicago's team stat page after Hang exploded all over it. On the season now, Hang is slashing .307/.399/.617 with 23 homers and 74 RBIs in just 92 games.
“If he’d come up at the beginning of the year, he’d be one of the top candidates for the league's newcomer of the year,” said Simpson. “He probably still belongs in the conversation. That kid has talent to burn.”