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Prior Lake Pitcher Nick Hanson Has Major League Ambitions

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It is one thing to throw hard. It is another to throw so hard that professional scouts come from all over the country to watch you pitch -- and entertain drafting you.

That is life for Prior Lake High School's Nick Hanson. He is big and lean, and can throw a baseball harder than any high school pitcher I can remember in this state.

"I'm going to miss this school," Hanson said. "Had a lot of memories here with a bunch of buddies and everything, so it will be missed."

And Prior Lake High will miss Hanson. He is what they call a "flame thrower" as a pitcher.

"A couple dads had me at 98 [miles per hour], but I don't know if that's realistic," Hanson said. "I usually say 96, 97."

Some of that comes from size. He stands out at 6-feet-6-inches tall, which allows him to become a power pitcher.

"It helps a lot. It helps me with a downward angle throwing to the home plate," he said. "And it helps me get out further on my throws. So it makes it look like it's coming in a lot harder."

Next up is a decision. He is committed to the University of Kentucky, but he is projected to go in the first few rounds of the upcoming professional draft.

"It's going to be tough. It's going to be dependent on the money," Hanson said. "I'm going to have to talk to my parents a lot. They're going to be influencing the decision too, so it's going to be a stressful time when it comes around. But I think we're ready. I think we have everything figured out."

Because for as long as he can remember, he has dreamed the big league dream.

"I've been playing baseball ever since I was 7 years old. It's always been a dream of mine," Hanson said. "Growing up watching Joe Mauer play ... I just wanted to replicate him and be like him and make the big leagues."

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