Marcus Hanel missed the bigs in 11 seasons; Been there in two decades since as bullpen catcher

Marcus Hanel helped his Mudcats tie the game this night in August 1997 by hitting a key double, according to The Wilson Daily Times.

The Carolina catcher later explained to The Daily Times how he did it.

"I knew the pitcher was behind me (in the count), and I had an opportunity to move (teammate) Charles (Peterson) over," Hanel told The Times. "Because they were trying to pitch me inside, I was able to be aggressive at the plate, and try to drive him in."

Hanel had watched and worked with pitchers as a catcher over nine seasons. He went on to play in two more campaigns. He made AAA over three of his seasons as as a player, but he never made the majors.

Hanel has, however, gone on to continue catching - and make the majors. He has now served as Brewers bullpen catcher for over two decades.

Hanel's career in baseball began in 1989, taken by the Pirates in the 18th round of the draft out of Horlick High in Racine, Wisc.

Hanel started with the Pirates in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He moved to short-season Welland for 1990. He hit .153 over 40 games there.

He moved to single-A Augusta for 1991, then high-A Salem for 1992. He stayed at Salem for three seasons, then made AA Carolina in 1995. He also saw high-A Lynchburg - and two games at AAA Calgary. He went 1 for 8 at AAA.

Hanel saw Carolina for all of 1996. He hit .178 over 101 games. He returned to AAA in 1998, getting 28 games at Richmond, with the Braves. He then saw six final games at AAA Tucson with the Diamondbacks in 1999 to end his playing career.

Hanel soon found himself back home in Wisconsin, as the bullpen catcher with the Brewers, a job he continues in in 2020.

In 2015, Hanel, nicknamed Koos, happened to catch something else, Kris Bryant's first home run ball as it landed in the Brewers' bullpen.

Hanel spoke to The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in 2013 about his warmup role catching Brewers pitchers.

"The one thing is I get to have a uniform. I get to feel like I'm a part of it, to physically be a part of it," Hanel told The Journal-Sentinel. "I don't have to sit around, I get to be hands-on, and that's something that I love."

• Wilson Daily Times, Aug. 2, 1997: Mudcats' relievers shut down Mobile
• Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Feb. 21, 2013: Milwaukee Brewers bullpen catcher is loving life

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,328
Made the Majors:1,190-35.8%
Never Made Majors:2,138-64.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 494
10+ Seasons in the Minors:288-X