March 30, 2023

By Jamie Attard

Centennial Sports Journalism

DUNEDIN, Fla. - It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who famously said, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

And for Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Hagen Danner, it’s certainly been that.

Born in Huntington Beach, Calif., Danner pitched on the Ocean View Little League team that won the 2011 Little League World Series, and for the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup winning Team USA.

The latter he credits with helping him develop as a young man as well as a player.

“I was playing with the best of the best at that age group,” said Danner, at the Blue Jays spring training complex. “Traveling all over the place with that group of guys forced me to grow up really fast.

“That was probably the most important part, it taught me to mature fast and when I got to pro ball, I felt like I was ready to go.”

Entering the 2017 Major League Baseball draft at two positions, he was selected in the second round, 61st overall by Toronto as a catcher. However, by 2020, he was struggling in the batter’s box and grew unhappy with a subsequent move to the outfield.

Danner knew what he had to do, and the time was right for a return to the mound, a decision that has turned out to be the right one.

In 25 games of High-A ball with the Vancouver Canadians, he threw 35 2/3 innings, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.02 ERA and 42 strikeouts. It was on the strength of this stretch of play that the Blue Jays elected to add Danner to the 40-man roster, protecting him from being exposed to the Rule 5 draft.

It was a sign of confidence by the team that didn’t go unnoticed.

“I've always given my best to the Blue Jays since draft day. I've always come and tried hard, tried to be a good guy, and show that that I respect them. Them doing that really showed they respect me and that was awesome to see, that was a good day.” Danner said.

Danner will begin the 2023 season in triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons, one step closer to his big-league dream becoming a reality. When asked what he feels is necessary for Blue Jays fans to see him in Toronto this season, the answer was simple.

“Stay healthy, that’s it. My stuff is going to play, I have all the confidence in the world with it and as long as I'm healthy and on the field, I really see myself being up there,” he said.

Danner has come to understand what it will mean to be a big league Blue Jay.

“After I got drafted, I realized, wow, this is incredible how many fans from Toronto and all over Canada are rooting for one team, and they're all behind me. You’re playing for an entire country, and no one really gets to ever say that.”