Joel Ryan Hanrahan (born October 6, 1981) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. Hanrahan was originally a starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB) before moving to the closer role for the Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Boston Red Sox. Early years Hanrahan was born in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. He attended Norwalk High School in Norwalk, Iowa. After graduating, he turned down a scholarship to play baseball at the University of Nebraska and entered the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. At that time, he was ranked as the 70th-best prospect in the nation by Baseball America. As profiled in The Des Moines Register, while in second grade in Gainesville, Florida, Hanrahan was asked by his teacher what he wanted to be when he grew up. After he responded with "a Major League ballplayer", the teacher suggested he work on a backup plan. "I think that's what every kid says in elementary school. Nobody ever believes it, but it's something I said, and that's what I tried to work for." Professional career 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. 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.