This was pointed out by a loyal citizen of Redleg Nation in last night’s game thread, and I thought it deserved wider mention. From ESPN’s Rob Neyer:
Does anyone know why it’s taken Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan so long to get a real shot in the majors? The guy’s got a .383 career on-base percentage in the minors — including .376 in Triple-A — and if last night’s performance against the Dodgers is any indication, he’s got a killer throwing arm. Hanigan turns 29 in a few weeks, and don’t be surprised if he’s still playing when he’s 39.
What I love about this is that Hanigan was not drafted out of college. What a great story. The Reds signed him as an undrafted free agent. That’s one reason why he has never been given a real shot. The blue-chippers get the benefit of the doubt; undrafted free agents do not.
The second reason is that, well, he’s still not really getting a real shot. Or, at least, he wouldn’t be getting a shot without the injury to Ramon Hernandez. Pin that one on Dusty Baker.