Ben Hanley has spent his spring doing what he does best: attacking hitters, showing a jump in velocity and proving why his name has started to circulate more frequently in MLB scouting conversations.
The Mason High School right-hander has taken a clear step forward in his senior season, sitting in the 92-94 mph range with a fastball that has touched 97 mph and consistently reaches 96. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Hanley pairs that velocity with a deep mix of pitches and a growing confidence that he can miss bats at a high level.
“I definitely feel like the ball is coming out better,” Hanley said. “My floor is higher than it was last year, and I can maintain velocity deeper into outings.”
Hanley’s rise has been fueled in part by added strength, particularly in his upper body, something he targeted during the offseason. He also focused heavily on refining his lower-half explosiveness, continuing to build on an athletic foundation that has long been one of his strengths.
That physical development has translated directly to the mound. Where Hanley once sat closer to the upper 80s, he now operates comfortably in the low 90s and has shown the ability to reach the upper 90s without losing command.
His arsenal features a four-seam fastball with ride that he uses to challenge hitters inside, a sinking fastball with heavy downward action, a cutter/slider that generates weak contact and a sweeping breaking ball that serves as his primary swing-and-miss weapon. He also throws a developing changeup, which he is working to expand beyond left-handed hitters.
“I try to use my fastball in different ways,” Hanley said. “Then everything plays off that — the sinker, the slider, the sweeper. It all works together.”
A big part of Hanley’s development has come at Alpha Baseball, a training facility where he has worked alongside professional pitchers and incorporated analytics into his approach. There, he learned to better understand pitch shapes and how subtle adjustments can change outcomes.
One example came from current pro pitcher Drew Rom, who helped him refine his sinker grip and sequencing to maximize movement based on his natural cutting action.
“It just helps everything play up,” Hanley said. “Understanding how the ball moves and how to use it has made a big difference.”
While the physical tools have drawn attention, Hanley points to his mentality as his most reliable trait. He describes himself as even-keeled on the mound, focusing on controlling his breathing and staying locked into execution rather than emotion.
“I don’t get too high or too low,” he said. “I think I’m good at slowing things down and understanding how to pitch in the moment.”
That approach has helped him navigate a steady rise through Mason’s program. As a sophomore, he emerged as a key bullpen arm on a team that captured a state championship. By his junior year, he had stepped into a frontline starting role before injuries limited his innings. This spring, however, he has returned as one of the more dominant pitchers in Ohio.
Hanley has also begun drawing professional interest, a new experience he has learned to balance alongside the normal rhythm of a high school season. The attention ramped up after strong winter bullpen sessions, adding another layer to his senior year.
“It’s definitely been an adjustment,” Hanley said. “But I’ve just tried to stay focused on the season and keep improving.”
Committed to Kent State, Hanley cited the program’s track record of developing pitchers and the trust placed in players by the coaching staff as key reasons for his decision. If he doesn’t sign professionally, he believes the Golden Flashes offer a strong path forward.
Still, his current trajectory suggests he may have options before he ever arrives on campus.
For Hanley, the foundation remains simple: a fastball that keeps getting louder, a pitch mix that continues to evolve and a mindset built for big moments.
“I just love competing,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to.”
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 11 years. He has interviewed 613 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as an “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
