Tommy Hanson, a former top pitching prospect and starter with the Braves and Angels, died Monday at age 29.
RIP, Tommy pic.twitter.com/SXUq1NNTyQ
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 10, 2015Hanson fell into a coma Monday and was transferred to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, according to Atlanta television station WSB, which first reported the death. No details were given about the cause of his ailment, which reportedly began Sunday morning when he had trouble breathing and was rushed to a hospital.
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Hanson's friends and former teammates were reportedly told, "It's real bad" and that Hanson suffered catastrophic organ failure.
Thoughts and prayers to the family of Tommy Hanson. Great guy and competitor. RIP
— Josh Reddick (@RealJoshReddick) November 10, 2015Very sad to hear about Tommy Hanson. Wish his family and close friends a lot of strength. He was a really nice dude. :/
— Andrelton Simmons (@Andrelton) November 10, 2015Hanson made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2009 and remained with the team through the 2012 season. After a trade to the Angels in November 2012, Hanson had a 4-3 record with a 5.42 ERA in 15 appearances with 13 starts in 2013. Hanson had minor league stints with the Rangers, White Sox and Giants over the past two years.
Known for his ability to keep hitters off balance, Hanson had a fastball that topped out in the low 90s with a 70 mph changeup and a slider in the low 80s. His most effective pitch was a nasty curveball that had a 38 percent whiff rate.
Early in his career, Sporting News mag included Tommy Hanson in a rising stars feature. Loved this pic. RIP Tommy pic.twitter.com/AiXCEeo1RH
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) November 10, 2015Born in Tulsa, Okla., Hanson was raised in San Bernardino County, Calif. He was a 22nd-round draft pick of the Braves in 2005 out of Riverside Community College, making his professional debut a year later with the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League. The Braves had such high hopes for Hanson, they released future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine to make room for Hanson on the roster.
After going 11-4 as a rookie in 2009, Hanson finished third in voting for the National League Rookie of the Year award. His best game may have come in 2011, when he struck out 14 Astros on June 12 at Minute Maid Park. Hanson was named the Opening Day starter for the Braves in 2012 but was placed on the disabled list with a lower back strain. It was a nagging shoulder injury that eventually derailed his career.
Hanson had a 49-35 record with a 3.80 ERA and 648 strikeouts over 708 innings during his five-year MLB career. Hanson's stepbrother died in 2013 at the age of 24.