Tommy Hanson
photo by Tim Evearitt
ATLANTA -- Many members of the baseball world are understandably reacting to Tommy Hanson's premature death with shock and sadness. The former Major Leaguer, who pitched for the Braves and Angels, was just 29.
A Braves representative confirmed that some of Hanson's former teammates were near Hanson when he passed away at Atlanta's Piedmont Hospital late Monday night. Multiple sources told WSB-TV in Atlanta that Hanson suffered catastrophic organ failure. A source said he had difficulty breathing early Sunday morning and was taken to a hospital.
"Devastated" was the simple and fitting response one of Hanson's closest friends provided as he attempted to deal with the grief early Tuesday morning. This seemed to be a common sentiment among the many who had the pleasure of knowing the big redheaded right-hander, who possessed a bushy beard and a kind heart.
Hanson established himself as baseball's top pitching prospect after he dominated the 2008 Arizona Fall League. He made his much-anticipated Major League debut the following June and ended his first month at the big league level by winning four consecutive starts, including two straight against the Yankees and Red Sox at Turner Field.
After producing a 3.28 ERA over the 77 starts made during his first three Major League seasons, Hanson was hampered by a shoulder and back ailment that altered his career. The Braves traded him to the Angels after the 2012 season, and he did not pitch at the Major League level after making 15 appearances for the 2013 Angels. Hanson finished his career with a 49-35 record, a 3.80 ERA and 648 strikeouts.
-- Source: MLB.com
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Tommy Hanson
photo by Tim Evearitt