TEMPE, AZ - FEBRUARY 21: Pitcher Tommy Hanson #48 poses during the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Photo Day on February 21, 2013 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Tommy Hanson, the former major-league pitcher who won at least 10 games in each of his four seasons, reportedly 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 moved to an Atlanta area hospital in the morning after suffering "catastrophic organ failure." The hospital, Atlanta Piedmont, ran a series of tests, according to the WSB report, to determine why Hanson's organs failed. To date, no cause of the organ failure has been announced.
According to WSB, Hanson was initially rushed to a hospital Sunday morning after he had trouble breathing.
Hanson had double-digit wins in each of his first four seasons, from 2009 to 2012 and all with Atlanta. In '09, Hanson finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He was traded to the Angels in November 2012 for reliever Jordan Walden. In his one season in Anaheim, Hanson went 4-3 in 15 games (13 starts) in 2013. 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.
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