Los Angeles Dodgers In the
2000 MLB draft, Hanrahan was selected in the second round (No. 57 overall) and signed by the
Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2000, Hanrahan played for the
Great Falls Dodgers and in 2001, for the
Wilmington Waves. Hanrahan split the 2002 season between the
Vero Beach Dodgers and the
Jacksonville Suns. In 2003, he played for Jacksonville and the Dodgers
Triple-A affiliate, the
Las Vegas 51s. In 2004, his first full season with Las Vegas, Hanrahan went 7–7 with an
earned run average (ERA) of 5.05 in 25 games, ranked second on the club with 22 starts, ranked third with 119 innings pitched, batted .281 on the season and hit a home run on May 4 against the
Tucson Sidewinders and posted a 4.11 ERA at home and 6.39 mark on the road in the
Pacific Coast League. After the 2006 season, Hanrahan became a free agent. in 2009
Washington Nationals On November 6, 2006, the
Washington Nationals signed Hanrahan to a one-year contract. He did not make the team out of spring training, and so started with the
AAA Columbus Clippers, starting 17 games, going 5–4 with a 3.70 ERA. The Nationals, their starting pitching decimated by injuries, purchased Hanrahan's contract in late July, and on July 28, 2007, Hanrahan made his Major League debut against the
New York Mets. In that game, he gave up three runs in six innings, striking out seven, and hitting a triple in his first at-bat. He did not receive a decision, but the Nationals defeated the Mets 6–5. One week later on August 4, 2007, Hanrahan got his first big league victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing one run and six hits in 5 innings, and helping his cause by hitting a two-run double. In late 2008, after the trades of
Jon Rauch and
Luis Ayala, Hanrahan was named the
closer. He finished the season with nine saves as well as striking out 93 batters in 84 innings pitched. He competed on Team USA for the
2009 World Baseball Classic after an injury to
BJ Ryan. On June 30, 2009 the Nationals traded Hanrahan and
Lastings Milledge to the
Pittsburgh Pirates for
Nyjer Morgan and
Sean Burnett.
Pittsburgh Pirates On July 9, 2009, Hanrahan earned a win for the Nationals while on the Pirates roster when Washington beat the
Houston Astros in the bottom of the 11th inning in the completion of a game from May 5 because he was the pitcher of record, recording the final out for the Nats in the top of the 11th. In 2010, Hanrahan struck out 100 batters in 69 innings and became the Pirates closer at the end of the season. On February 16, 2011, Pirates manager
Clint Hurdle announced Hanrahan as the opening day closer for the Pirates. He was named the
Delivery Man of the Month Award winner for June 2011. Hanrahan was named to the All-Star game in 2011, garnered a career high 40 saves in one season, and finished the year with a 1.83 ERA. On January 16, 2012, Hanrahan agreed to a one-year, $4.1 million deal that included incentives with the Pirates to avoid arbitration. On July 1, Hanrahan and teammate
Andrew McCutchen were both named to the
All-Star Game's National League roster for a second consecutive year. At the time of his selection, Hanrahan was third in the National League in saves (20) and had converted in 22 save appearances. "It definitely feels good to come back a second time. Sometimes, people can get in on a fluke. To get voted in by my peers, again, is a huge honor." On May 2, Hanrahan got his 100th career save in a 3–1 victory over the
Toronto Blue Jays, which was his first save since coming off the disabled list. Hanrahan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain on May 7. He was moved to the 60-day disabled list on May 9. An MRI revealed that there was a damaged flexor tendon in his right elbow. Hanrahan underwent season ending
Tommy John surgery on May 16. Hanrahan finished the 2013 season with an 0–1 record, four saves, and a 9.82 ERA in nine games. Hanrahan was released on October 31, 2013.
Detroit Tigers On May 2, 2014, Hanrahan signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the
Detroit Tigers. He never played a game for the Tigers in 2014 due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery and on October 31, 2014, Hanrahan became a free agent. On November 14, 2014, he signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. On March 4, 2015, Hanrahan was released by the Tigers after being diagnosed with a tear of the
ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, requiring him to undergo another Tommy John surgery. Hanrahan officially announced his retirement from playing baseball on November 15, 2016. == Coaching career ==