According to media reports Monday, former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson died due to catastrophic organ failure on Monday night.
The sudden death Of Hanson has shocked fans. Although Hanson had not pitched in the majors since 2013, he was still an active player. Hanson spent the 2015 season in the San Francisco Giants minor-league system. He was pitching off a mound just a few weeks ago.
Many of the details surrounding Hanson’s death are still unclear at this time.
Reports surfaced early Monday that Hanson was in a coma at a local Atlanta hospital. The Angels sent out a tweet shortly after the report broke sending their thoughts to Hanson, but did not provide any details about the situation.
Tommy Hanson
Klein later reported that Hanson had suffered “catastrophic organ failure,” and that the situation was dire.
Per source: Tommy Hanson suffered catastrophic organ failure. "We need prayers, we need him to wake up"
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) November 10, 2015
A few hours later, Klein reported that Hanson had died. The Braves later confirmed that report. Hanson was 29 years old.
USA Today describes Hanson:
Hanson, a 6-6, 220-pounder known for his amiable personality, last pitched in the major leagues in 2013 with the Los Angeles Angels. He spent nearly a month away from the club that year as he coped with the sudden death of his stepbrother.
Hanson finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2009, when he won 11 games and posted a 2.89 earned-run average. Shoulder discomfort bothered him as recently as 2010, and limited him to just 22 starts in 2011.
While Hanson made 31 starts and won 13 games for the Braves in 2012, they traded him to the Los Angeles Angels that off-season for reliever Jordan Walden. When his stepbrother passed away that spring, Hanson took six days off from the team, made one start, and then realized he needed more time away to mourn.
Tommy Hanson in 2011. Photograph: John G. Mabanglo/EPA
He returned to the Angels three weeks later.
“I was having mental issues with the death of my younger brother,” Hanson, then 26, told reporters then. “I was just trying to get through it. I didn’t know how to handle it.
“That was the first time anything like that had ever happened to me. I didn’t know how to cope with it.”
He made 13 starts for the Angels in 2013, and made his final major league appearance, a relief outing, on Sept. 28.
ot going to speculate what happened before his final days, but that piece of information that said he had undergone mental issues in dealing with his step-sibling’s death….can’t help but wonder a multiple of things that might have happened….all linked to depression or the like.
Doesn’t matter though. It sucks that he passed on so early, not even to reach 30. He had a nice career though. Very shocked at the news of slipping to a coma last night, even more so that he died not long after.
RIP Tommy Hanson.
OMG! How sad! 29 years old! Unbelievable! It’s just sickening when a young life is cut so short.
My heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Tommy. Words cannot express the grief I know you are feeling.
RIP Tommy, life is just NOT fair for some.
I remember Tommy’s first season in Atlanta. The guy looked great. Had a promising career.
Life can be so unfair.
My condolences. Truly sad news. RIP