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April 29, 2007
The news this morning of the passing of Josh Hancock stunned Pawtucket Red Sox players and personnel.
ESPN's Peter Gammons interupted the network's NFL Draft coverage to report the news. Gammons reported Hancock, a right-handed relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, died in a car crash just outside the city limits in St. Louis early this morning. He was 29.
He was orginially selected by the Boston Red Sox as their fourth pick (fifth round) in the 1998 draft. Hancock spent four seasons in the organization, including here in Pawtucket in 2002, the same season he made his major-league debut in Boston.
Current PawSox manager Ron Johnson and pitching coach Mike Griffin had Hancock in Double-A Trenton in 2001. Both were taken aback by the news this morning, especially Griffin who was very close with Hancock.
"I'm stunned right now," said Griffin. "Oh, man. He was really talented, I'll tell you that right now. He had everything to be in the major leagues. Jeez, wow. He and I went through a lot. He was a tough kid. There are a lot of things I'm going to remember about him, but the toughness will stick out in my mind. He had all the stuff to pitch in the major leagues and I'm glad he got there, and he had some success there. For that I'm happy, but to hear this, wow!"
Johnson also had Hancock at Class-A Sarasota before both made the jump to Double-A.
"He had himself a nice career," said Johnson. "It's awful. He was one of the toughest guys I had ever seen. One month to the day after he broke his jaw he was back on the mound and pitched with no fear. I couldn't believe it. He didn't have any fear and it was amazing. It's just a shame.
"You get such a sick feeling in your stomach," added Johnson. "It's such a reminder that we all think we're bullet proof and we're just humans. I hope Josh rests in peace."
Boston traded Hancock to Philadelphia in exchange for Jeremy Giambi.
Posted by Joe McDonald 
at 12:04 PM | Permalink
