Ex-Knight Makes Major League Debut at Turner Field

Right-hander Tommy Hanson of the Atlanta Braves Starts vs. Milwaukee

Knights 2005 ace Tommy Hanson (pictured pitching for Gwinnett) of Riverside CC was recently called up to replace Tom Glavine on the Atlanta Braves roster. Tommy will be added to the Braves active roster on Sunday, June 7 and make his first big league start at Turner Field vs. the Milwaukee Brewers that same day.

Hanson was dominate pitching for the Gwinnett Braves (AAA) going 3-3 while posting a 1.49 ERA and striking out 90 over 66 1/3 innings pitched, earning a big league call-up.

Tommy started the 2009 season as the fourth-best prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America. The right-hander from Redlands, California had a breakout season last year cementing his status as a rising star, splitting the season between Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach and Double-A Mississippi.

Tommy was the recipient of the Phil Niekro Award, given annually to the top pitcher in the Braves' system, and was named to Baseball America's 2008 minor league All-Star team and was also named the Best Pitching Prospect in the Carolina League by Baseball America.

Hanson became the first pitcher in the 17-year history of the Arizona Fall League to be named MVP when he won the pitching triple crown by going 5-0 with an 0.63 ERA in seven starts.

On June 25, 2008, Hanson threw the first no-hitter in Mississippi Braves history and set a new personal best and team record by fanning 14 batters against the Birmingham Barons.

Tommy set Knights' single-season records for ERA (0.92), strikeouts (116) and innings pitched (78) for the Knights in 2005 and earned West Coast League Pitcher of the Year honors.

Earlier this season, Tommy was gracious enough to deliver the below online interview for corvallisknights.com.

corvallisknights.com: Congrats on being named Atlanta Braves Minor League Pitcher of the Year and AFL MVP. Where are you spending your off-season and are you getting any rest (or are you already preparing for spring training)?

Tommy Hanson: Thank you. I'm spending my off-season at my home in Redlands. I've been working out and I recently started throwing to get ready for the upcoming season.

corvallisknights.com: You pitched a no-hitter in AA, Mississippi's first ever no-no, vs. Birmingham this season and struck out 14 Barons. Robby Hudson of Birmingham, who is from your hometown and also an ex-RCC Tiger and ex-Aloha Knight, tells us he was not a strikeout victim on that historic night. Did you spare your SoCal buddy and do you remember pitching against Robby?

Tommy Hanson: Yeah I faced Robby that night. I actually hit him in the back his first at bat. It was obviously not on purpose since Robby is a buddy of mine. I came in the dugout after I hit him and I had to hear it from all my teammates. I called him after the game to tell him it was an accident.

corvallisknights.com: Do you keep in touch with many of your former college teammates?

Tommy Hanson: I talk to the coaches on occasion. I always talk to a good friend of mine Jason Rodriguez who was my roommate during that summer. I keep in touch with Wally Crancer and Garret Parcell.

corvallisknights.com: What is your fondest memory of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League, what was your favorite town to visit (and why) and who was the toughest batter you faced that summer as an ace for the Aloha Knights?

Tommy Hanson: I had a great time that summer. It's really very similar to professional baseball. I would have to say my fondest memory was winning almost every night. We had a real good team. My favorite town was Kelowna. We had the most fun there and it was beautiful. Jonathan Hee of Wenatchee killed me that summer. Everytime I faced him it felt like he crushed the ball off me.

corvallisknights.com: You throw four pitches for strikes with great command, what one pitch are you working on the most and do you have a favorite pitch?

Tommy Hanson: I feel good with all of my pitches. I was recently working on my changeup in the AFL, but I feel like I can throw it when I need it now. If I had to pick my favorite to throw it would be my slider. The Braves don't like their young guys to throw them. It was my best pitch before I signed and half way through last season they let me throw it again.

corvallisknights.com: You pitched for the Knights following your freshman year and were named WCCBL Pitcher of the Year, briefly tell us about the experience and how you got your nickname "The Hibernator" with the Knights?

Tommy Hanson: It was awesome playing for the Knights. We had a really good team and the Knights took great care of all of us. I was nicknamed the hibernator because I love to sleep and I hate being tired. When I'm bored, that's how I pass my time.

corvallisknights.com: You pitched for legendary head coach Dennis Rogers at Riverside CC and your pitching coach with the Knights is a legend in the Northwest, Dale Stebbins. How did they further your development as a pitcher?

Tommy Hanson: Dennis Rogers is the smartest person I have ever met. Every time I listen to him speak he blows my mind. I've never met anybody like him. He has a lot to do with where I am at today. Dale Stebbins helped me a lot too. He stayed on us about our maintenance programs (lifting, shoulder exercises, towel drills, etc.). He also helped me a lot with pitch selection and how to set-up a hitter.

corvallisknights.com: In professional baseball, do you have a role model that you emulate (and why)?

Tommy Hanson: I don't. I just try to work as hard as I can, but be smart about it at the same time. When it comes to pitching I just try to pay attention as much as possible. You can learn so much just from watching the game closely on the days I don't pitch.

corvallisknights.com: What was it like rooming with Kevin Gunderson a couple summers ago in Myrtle Beach? If you guys make it to the big leagues with the Braves you will have to hit, have you ever hit before and who do you think would be a better hitter, you or Kevin?

Tommy Hanson: Kevin is a good guy. He'll be the first to tell you all the big league guys that are from Oregon or the Northwest or to tell you how Oregon State is doing in everything. Gundy is a big-time golfer so his swing might be a little better than mine. He is a reliever so he doesn't get the repetitions that I do. I had to hit last year and didn't do too well so I'm gonna go advantage Gundy.

corvallisknights.com: Thanks for your time, Tommy. Keep up the great work and we look forward to watching you pitch next season.