Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
The Chicago Black Sox have named Hao Hang, their talented young right fielder, as their Hitter of the Year for 2042.
Hang slashed .298/.377/.631, with 49 home runs, 128 RBIs and 122 runs scored. He compiled 6.0 WAR and put up a wOBA of .407.
“Hao was incredible for us all season long,” said manager Julián Negrete. “When he had it going – which was frequently – he could carry the team all by himself.”
Hao Hang
“Maybe the scariest thing of all is that he’s still getting better,” said Sox hitting coach Valentino Mercati.
The BBA Scouting Consortium agrees: “He is a very good contact hitter. He has quick wrists and can turn on inside pitches and send them out of the stadium … Hang has the tools to profile as a premier right fielder.”
Hang, who played for the Frick League All-Star team in 2042, was the team’s first round draft selection in 2039, the 16th player taken overall that season.
He won numerous minor league awards as he worked his way quickly through the Black Sox system, and now has added the team award to his collection.
“Huh,” he said this week as he accepted the award. “Nice certificate. They printed it in color - and I'm pretty sure this is heavy gauge typing paper. Sweet.”
Benny Vitale, the Sox general manager, said Hang will get more than the certificate, though.
“That’s a young man with a tower of pears in his future if ever there was one,” she said.