There aren’t many freshmen in college baseball as imposing as Indiana’s Jake Hanley. Standing at 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, he is the team’s biggest position player by height and weight. He plays like the oldest, too – he’s one of three Hoosiers to start every game this season. Less than halfway through his first campaign, the Mason, Ohio native has shown the poise of a seasoned veteran.
In the eyes of the national media, Hanley doesn’t get the same attention that projected first-round MLB Draft selection Devin Taylor (1.191 OPS, 9 HR, 32 RBI) and Louisville transfer Korbyn Dickerson (1.107 OPS, 11 HR, 41 RBI) do. Despite his size and physical presence in the left-handed batter’s box, it took Hanley a month to hit his first career home run.
Two weeks removed from his maiden round-tripper versus Ohio State, Hanley has racked up six bombs, including a pair in Indiana’s Friday doubleheader versus USC. In two games against the Trojans, whose pitching staff entered the weekend as one of the better in the Big Ten, Hanley went 6-for-10 with two homers and six RBIs.
He was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in the nightcap and his home run came on a down-and-in sinker that he pulled over the right-center field wall. At first glance, a lefty hitting a pitch in that location for a home run may draw comparisons to Major League sluggers like Bryce Harper – unusual for a 19-year-old who has just 27 college games under his belt.
“He’s starting to really drive some balls to his pull side field, which is really unique,” head coach Jeff Mercer said. “That home run was an absolute rocket ship.”
While the power numbers are just starting to climb, Hanley has been Indiana’s most consistent hitter since the season began six weeks ago. He is one of six qualified players in the Big Ten batting over .400 (.404), his 1.117 OPS ranks third among Hoosier hitters and his 28 RBIs are bested by only Dickerson and Taylor.
Unlike some young hitters, Hanley doesn’t try to hit home runs. Instead, he utilizes a simpler approach, looking to take what opposing pitchers give him. Whether they know it or not, he’s in their heads. Hanley pitched to the tune of a 1.79 ERA and struck out 87 batters in 58.2 innings during his senior year of high school. As a two-way player, he took home MaxPreps Ohio State Player of the Year honors and a state title at Mason High School.
He even saw time on the mound for Indiana during fall before taking over everyday duties at first base – rarely is a team going to pass up on the opportunity to have a 6-foot-6 first baseman. Hanley has answered the call. He owns a 1.000 fielding percentage and, when tested, has manned the position well.
“He just understands counts,” Mercer said, noting that Hanley approaches his at-bats as if he were pitching to himself. “He was more of a pitcher growing up.”
Baseball runs in Hanley’s family. His father, Todd, played college baseball and his brother, Ben, was his high school teammate in 2024 and is committed to Kent State.
“Family aptitude is a big deal,” Mercer said. “Ability is a huge determining factor. And then, can you adjust? Are you a willing learner? He stands next to me in the dugout every game, which I love, and he just talks. We talk hitting, approach, all that stuff.”
Mercer preaches the importance of being coachable. As a freshman in the Big Ten, Hanley will inevitably make mistakes, like in game two versus USC when he forgot to run on contact with two outs. Given the focus he puts on letting young players shine early in their careers, Mercer understands growing pains are part of the process.
“I’m kind of used to where you have this grown man who plays so many parts of the game like such a veteran,” Mercer said. “And you still have to learn and grow. He’s still 19 – a really special player doing an awesome job.”
