Josh Hancock

In 1996 graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia, AL...played on 3 high school state championship baseball teams...during his senior season went 9-0, 0.92 and was All-State, a Mizzuno High School All-American and the Gatorade Player of the Year for Alabama...attended Auburn University, where in his only season he helped lead the Tigers to the 1997 College World Series...that season for Auburn went 2-0, 4.75 with 32 strikeouts in 2 starts and 11 relief apps for a team that finished 55-17...was a college teammate of Tim Hudson.

2006

Made a Major League roster to begin a season for the first time after impressing the Cardinals' staff in the spring...Was signed as a minor league free agent on 2/21 after being released by Cincinnati in spring training...Ranked 16th among NL relievers in fewest baserunners allowed (10.99) per 9 IP...Led all Cardinals relievers in innings pitched with 77. Pitched 3.0-or-more innings on five occasions and 2.0-or-more innings 14 times...Pitched a career-high 4.1 inn. of no-hit relief 7/1 vs. KC. The 4.1 IP were also a season high by a STL reliever...Allowed just four runs and eight hits in 12.2 innings vs. NL West opponents (2.13 ERA)...Was one of four Cardinals relievers to record a save (Isringhausen, Wainwright & Sosa)...Made his Cardinals debut 4/3 at PHI - surrendered a double before retiring the next two batters...Retired 3-straight in the 8th on 4/23 vs. CHI. Logged 3.2 relief IP in 4/18 loss at PIT, allowing 2 runs, incl. solo HR...Fanned 3 batters in 2.0 IP on 5/1 at CIN, allowing 2 inherited runs to score...Suffered 1st defeat & 2nd blown save on 5/30 vs. HOU as his season-high 8-game scoreless streak ended. The streak spanned 9.2 innings pitched...Worked 4.0 IP and posted a season-high four strikeouts on 6/2 vs. CHI, but was tagged with the loss in the 14th inning...Was perfect in 2.0 scoreless innings 6/9 at MIL, recording three strikeouts...Credited with third win on 6/11, his second of a three-game series at MIL...Earned his first career save 7/9 at HOU pitching a 1-2-3 12th inning in the 7-5 win...Allowed a season high four hits and matched high with three runs allowed on 7/17 vs. ATL. Went 1.1 IP 7/23 at LA, stranding 3 runners in the 6th inning...Struck out the side in his 1.0 IP on 9/12 vs. HOU...Appeared in a total of three games and allowed six runs on five hits while walking five batters in 2.0 innings pitched (27.00 ERA)...tossed 1.2 scoreless innings in Game 3 loss vs. SD in the Division Series...was on the World Series roster but did not appear in a game.

2005

Spent most of the season on the disabled list with a strained right groin...Made 11 of his 22 season apps during 3 rehabilitation assignments with Class AAA Louisville...Was bothered by the injury during spring training but still produced a 0.93 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance...Began the regular season on the 15-day DL...on 5/25 was transfered to the 60-day DL...From 6/7-6/20 made 4 rehab apps for Louisville, including 3 starts...aggravated the injury during his lone relief appearance, on 6/20 at Charlotte, and didn't pitch again until 7/27...From 7/27-8/15 made five more starts for Louisville before he was returned from the rehab assignment on 8/16...the following day was diagnosed with inflammation in his right elbow caused by a sprained ulnar collateral ligament...His 10 strikeouts on 8/11 at Norfolk were the most by a Louisville pitcher all season...From 8/25-8/29 made two more rehab apps for the Bats, both in relief, before he came off the disabled list when rosters expanded on 9/1...Made first appearance of the season for CIN 9/2 at ATL (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K)...posted a 1.93 ERA in 11 apps (14.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 K)...Following the season pitched for Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League (5 G, 0-1, 8.84, 18.1 IP, 11 K).

2004

Was a starter at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (18 GS, 8-7, 4.01, 1 CG) for the majority of the season...combined to go 5-2, 5.09 in 11 starts and 5 relief apps for the Phillies and Reds...made 4 apps during 3 stints with the Phillies...made his first 3 apps for the Reds in relief (2-0, 6.75) and his last 9 apps as a starter (3-1, 4.33)...in his 9 starts the Reds went 7-2 and scored 53 runs (5.9 r/g)...produced 6 quality starts (6ip, 3er)...3 times was the victim of blown saves, including back-to-back apps on 9/16 vs CHI (5-4 loss) and 9/22 at ATL (11-8 win)...was acquired from the Phillies after the Reds' game vs. HOU on 7/30 was suspended at 10:42 p.m. ET...made it to Cincinnati the next day in time to pitch in the 11:30 a.m. completion of the suspended game...in that 3-2 victory threw a scoreless 13th inning for his first Major League win...met manager Dave Miley for the first time when he returned to the dugout following that inning...made his second appearance for the Reds on 8/4 at SF and earned that 8-7 victory...joined the rotation on 8/12, after RHP Cory Lidle was traded to PHI...went 3-0 in his first 5 apps/2 starts for the Reds, the longest winning streak of his career...produced one of his best starts in his final appearance of the season, on 9/28 at CHI threw a career-high 8.0 innings in the 8-3 victory (7h, 3r, 2er, 2bb, 3k)...had his first 2 career hits, a single off Wilson Alvarez on 8/12/04 vs LA and an RBI-single off Kent Mercker on 9/28/04 at CHI.

2003

At Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tied for the International League lead in shutouts (2) and ranked among the leaders in innings pitched (165.2, 3rd) and complete games (2, 5th)...three times was named both the IL and Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week...became the first S/WB player to win the IL's weekly award 3 times in a season since Andy Ashby in 1991...in his last 8 starts of the season went 5-0, 2.47 to earn a promotion to the Major Leagues...made his Phillies debut on 9/9 at ATL, in relief (1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K)...on 9/28 vs ATL, in the final game at Veterans Stadium, threw 2.0 scoreless innings.

2002

Began season with Trenton (AA)...Held lefthanders to .225 avg..Promoted to Pawtucket, ...Won his first 3 starts with Pawtucket, 7/24-8/3 ...Held opposing hitters to .235 avg; lefties .227...Recalled to BOS on 9/2 ...Made ML debut, 9/10 at TB (1.0 IP)...Retired the first 6 ML batters he faced...Made 1st ML start, 9/26 at CWS (5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO).

2001

Spent season with Trenton (AA)...Struck out a season-high 10 batters, 5/19 vs Altoona (7.1 IP) ...Had a season-best 1.33 ERA in 4 July starts... Allowed 3 ER or less in 19 of 24 starts.

2000

Spent entire season with Sarasota (A) ...Pitched at least 5.0 innings in 19 of 24 starts.

1999

Pitched for Augusta (A) . . . Compiled a 1.86 ERA in 5 July starts.

1998

Spent 1st pro season with Gulf Coast Red Sox (R) . . . Held opponents to .196 avg . . . Promoted to Lowell (A) and made just 1 start.