Former Braves, Angels pitcher, budding ace Hanson dead at 29

By foxsports
Published

Tommy Hanson, the former major-league pitcher who won at least 10 games in each of his first four seasons, died late Monday night in Atlanta after reportedly suffering "catastrophic organ failure" and slipping into a coma. The Braves confirmed Hanson's death early Tuesday morning. He was 29 years old.

According to Atlanta station WSB-TV sports director Zach Klein, who first reported Hanson’s hospitalization Monday afternoon, Hanson was initially rushed to a hospital Sunday morning after he had trouble breathing. He was moved to Atlanta Piedmont hospital the following morning after suffering organ failure and the hospital ran a series of tests to determine the cause, though one has yet to be announced.

Hanson had double-digit wins in each of his first four seasons, from 2009 to 2012 with Atlanta. In ’09, Hanson finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He suffered shoulder injuries and a loss of velocity in 2011 and was traded to the Angels in November 2012 for reliever Jordan Walden. In his one season in Anaheim, Hanson went 4-3 with a 5.42 ERA in 15 games (13 starts) in 2013 and took a leave of absence following the death of his half-brother. He did not pitch in the majors again, though he tried to catch on with the Rangers and White Sox before signing a minor-league contract with the Giants last spring.

Hanson finished with a career record of 49-35 in 123 games, all but two of them starts, with a 3.80 ERA. He had a career-high 13 wins in 2012.

Tributes to Hanson quickly moved across social media after word of his death.