Tommy Hanson
From BR Bullpen
Thomas J. Hanson
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 6", Weight 210 lb.
- School Riverside Community College
Tommy Hanson is an Atlanta Braves prospect.
Hanson was chosen in the 22nd round of the 2005 amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves as a draft-and-follow pick. He signed and made a fine pro debut with the 2006 Danville Braves, going 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA, 56 strikeouts and 9 walks in 51 2/3 IP while holding opponents to a .218 average. Had he qualified, he would have ranked second in the Appalachian League in ERA behind Jamie Richmond. Hanson and Richmond helped Danville win the Appy title that year. Baseball America ranked Hanson as the league's #4 prospect, one slot ahead of Richmond; no pitcher was rated higher.
Tommy was very good in 2007 but had little run support. He was 2-6 with a 2.59 ERA for the Rome Braves, allowing 59 hits and striking out 90 in 73 iinnings, holding opponents to a .194 average. Promoted to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the tall right-hander was 3-3 with a 4.20 ERA and over a strikeout per inning. He led Braves farmhands with 154 strikeouts and a .216 opponent average. Baseball America rated him as the best pitching prospect in the South Atlantic League. They ranked him as being the #14 prospect in the South Atlantic League (between Adrian Cardenas and Brandon Snyder) and #8 in the Carolina League, behind Brandon Erbe.
Hanson began 2008 even better, going 3-1 with a 0.90 ERA for Myrtle Beach, 49 strikeouts and only 15 hits in 40 innings for a .116 opponent average. That earned him a quick promotion to the Mississippi Braves, where he threw the first no-hitter in team history on June 25, fanning 14 agains the Birmingham Barons.
[edit] Sources
- 2007-2008 Baseball Almanacs
- 2008 Braves Media Guide
- Hanson's no-hitter of Birmingham at minorleaguebaseball.com
