Tommy Hanson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tommy Hanson |
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Hanson with the Atlanta Braves in 2009
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: August 28, 1986 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| Died: November 9, 2015 (aged 29) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 7, 2009, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 2013, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 49–35 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.80 | ||
| Strikeouts | 648 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Thomas J. Hanson Jr. (born August 28, 1986 – died November 9, 2015) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Tommy Hanson made his MLB debut with the Braves on June 7, 2009. He played with them until 2012. His final Major League season was in 2013 with the Angels.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Tommy Hanson was born on August 28, 1986, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was the second child and only son in his family. When he was very young, his family moved to California.
Hanson went to Redlands East Valley High School in Redlands, California. He played baseball there. In his first year, he played catcher. The next year, he played first base. In his junior year, he became a pitcher.
He planned to go to Sacramento State University. But after graduating high school in June 2004, he chose to go to Riverside City College instead. He also played for the Corvallis Knights, a summer college baseball team. In 2005, the Atlanta Braves picked him in the 22nd round of the baseball draft.
Journey Through Minor League Baseball
In 2006, Hanson started playing for the Danville Braves in the Appalachian League. He was seen as one of the best young players in the league. That season, he helped his team reach the championship series. He finished with a 4–1 record and 56 strikeouts. His earned run average (ERA) was 2.09, which is very good for a pitcher.
Rising Through the Ranks
Before the 2007 season, Hanson was named the best pitching prospect in the South Atlantic League. He started the year with the Rome Braves. He then moved up to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans later that season.
In 2008, Hanson started strong with the Pelicans. In one game, he pitched five innings without giving up any hits. He also set a personal best with 13 strikeouts. His great performance earned him a promotion to the Mississippi Braves. There, he threw a no-hitter in one game and set a new record of 14 strikeouts.
After the minor league season, Hanson won an award for his amazing single-game performance. He was also named the Atlanta Braves Pitcher of the Year. He was invited to the Arizona Fall League, where he continued to impress. He won five games and had a very low ERA of 0.63. He was named the Arizona Fall League's MVP, which was a first for a pitcher.
Getting Ready for the Big Leagues
In 2009, Hanson was considered the top young player in the Braves' system. He started the season with the Gwinnett Braves, the team's Triple-A affiliate. Everyone knew he was close to making it to the Major Leagues.
Major League Baseball Career
Playing for the Atlanta Braves
Tommy Hanson was called up to the Atlanta Braves on June 3, 2009. He made his first MLB appearance on June 7 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched six innings in that game.
On June 12, Hanson earned his first win in the Major Leagues against the Baltimore Orioles. He quickly showed how good he was. In his first four wins, his ERA was incredibly low at 0.78. He even pitched 20 innings in a row without giving up any runs. He was the first rookie pitcher in the National League to win games against both the Yankees and the Red Sox in a row. For his excellent play, he was named the National League Rookie of the Month for June. He finished third in the voting for the National League Rookie of the Year award.
Consistent Performance
In 2010, Hanson continued to be a strong pitcher for the Braves. He finished the season with 10 wins and 11 losses. His ERA was 3.33. He pitched a career-high 202.2 innings that year.
On June 12, 2011, Hanson set a new personal best with 14 strikeouts in a game against the Houston Astros. This matched the most strikeouts ever recorded by a pitcher at Minute Maid Park. By the All-Star break, Hanson was one of the best pitchers in the league. He led the league in how few hits opponents got against him.
Dealing with Injuries
In 2012, Hanson was named the Braves' Opening Day starter. This meant he was the first pitcher to start the season for his team. On July 31, he was placed on the disabled list because of a lower back strain. Hanson finished the 2012 season with 13 wins and 10 losses. He also had 161 strikeouts.
Time with the Los Angeles Angels
On November 30, 2012, Hanson was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He played one season with the Angels in 2013. He had 4 wins and 3 losses with a 5.42 ERA in 15 games. After the season, the Angels did not offer him a new contract, making him a free agent.
Later Career and Passing
On February 11, 2014, Hanson signed a contract with the Texas Rangers. However, he was released on March 26.
On April 7, 2014, Hanson signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He played for the Charlotte Knights. He was placed on the disabled list in June due to a shoulder injury, which ended his season.
Hanson signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on May 13, 2015. He played for the San Jose Giants and later the Sacramento River Cats. He made eleven starts for Sacramento that season.
Tommy Hanson passed away on November 9, 2015, at the age of 29.
How Tommy Hanson Pitched
Tommy Hanson used three main pitches when he was on the mound. These were his:
- Four-seam fastball: This pitch traveled at about 89–92 miles per hour.
- Slider: This pitch was a bit slower, around 78–82 miles per hour. It was often his go-to pitch when he had two strikes on a batter. It helped him get many strikeouts.
- Curveball: This was his slowest pitch, usually around 71–73 miles per hour. His curveball was very effective at making batters miss.
He sometimes also threw a two-seam fastball and a changeup, especially to left-handed batters.
See also
- List of baseball players who died during their careers
