Craig Hansen was born on November 15, 1983 and is the son of Arlene and Robert Hansen. He has two brothers, Keith (22) and Kyle (12).His brother Keith was a senior pitcher for St. John's . He enjoys playing basketball in his spare time and played in the Connie Mack World Series in New Mexico. Hansen lists his father as the most influential person in his athletic career . Selected St. John's over Columbia, Yale and Hofstra.

 

Craig Hansen attended college at St. Johns in Queens, New York. Hansen was a staight A student and he majored in hospitality management. He was a closer for the St. Johns Red Storm baseball team and was lights out when he came to close out a game.

                                               2003 College Highlights   

 Hansen appeared in 21 games, starting three and finished the season with a 2-2 record, a 7.03 earned run average and two saves. He threw 39.2 innings, allowing 31 earned runs on 51 hits, with 21 walks and 41 strikeouts  Hansen picked up his first career save, allowing two runs in two innings in a 4-3 win over Michigan State (3/3) .Earned his second save with two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief in a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh (3/30).Threw two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief to earn his first career win as St. John's topped Connecticut, 4-2 (4/4).       

                           

                                                  2004 College Highlights

He  Set the St. John's school record, and was second in the BIG EAST, with 10 saves and he was also ranked 21st in saves overall. Hansen finished the season with a 2-2 record and a 2.90 earned run average in 2004. Craig  allowed 17 runs (13 earned) on 33 hits in 40.1 innings pitched and Walked 16 batters and struck out 59 He also struck out at least two batters in 19 appearances during the season .Had a 2-0 record with five saves and a 2.55 ERA in conference action, walked only five batters and struck out 21 in 17.2 innings of work against league opponents. Was tied for the lead with fives during BIG EAST play .Struck out six batters in 4.0 innings during a no-decision against Lamar (2/29)  He earned his ninth save of the season in the Red Storm's 4-2 win over Pittsburgh in the BIG EAST Tournament, throwing one inning and striking out two batters and closed out the ninth inning, striking out two batters, in St. John's 9-6 win over UNLV in the NCAA Tournament.

                                        

                                                       At Glen Cove High School
 He tallied an 8-0 record, with three saves and a 0.00 ERA through 69 innings as a senior and also notched 119 strikeouts, allowing only 24 hits and 24 walks with seven shutouts .Hansen had a career-high 18 strikeouts once in a seven-inning game and struck out 12 batters, walked one and allowed four hits in a 12-inning playoff game .An all-county selection as a junior and senior, he earned conference most valuable player honors as senior and earned the Diamond Award. He earned first-team all-state honors as a senior, and was named All-Long Island  and also played four years of basketball, where he was named all-conference as a junior and senior.

                        

 

 

Craig Hansen was drafted by the Red Sox in 2005 in the 1st round. Hansen was 26th overall. He became the first player in Red Sox history to go to the Major Leagues the year he was drafted. On September 19, 2005 Hansen was called up from Pawtucket to make his MLB debut. He pitched one inning and fanning two.

      Hansen was sent back down to Pawtucket a few weeks later and was on the 40-man roster going into spring training. He sign a four year deal worth about 4 million dollars. Hansen did good in training camp but was sent back down and recalled on July 17, 2006 making him an official MLB rookie. Hansen lasted about a month in the Majors then got sent back down and the Sox called up Corey.

Craig got recalled on september 5,2006.