Tommy Hanson Named Arizona Fall League MVP.

Ex-Knight Dominates AFL

2005 Knights' ace Tommy Hanson (pictured pitching at the 2005 NBC World Series) of the Atlanta Braves was named the Arizona Fall League MVP Tuesday, December 9 at the MLB Winter Meetings. Hanson dominated the prestigious prospect league leading the AFL in wins (5), ERA (0.63) and strikeouts (49). The right-hander out of Riverside (CA) CC is the first hurler to win the Joe Black Award honoring the AFL's Most Valuable Player.

Baseball America also named Hanson the #2 prospect in the AFL. Ex-Knight pitcher Bud Norris (Cal Poly) of the Houston Astros was named the AFL's #6 prospect.

Following Hanson's 2008 summer season, the Redlands, California native was named the Atlanta Braves Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Tommy threw the Mississippi Braves first no-hitter and finished the season with a combined 11-5 record and 2.41 ERA with 163 strikeouts over 138 innings pitching for Myrtle Beach (A) and Mississippi (AA).

Hanson, affectionately nicknamed the "hibernator" while pitching for the 2005 Aloha Knights, still holds the Knights' single-season record for ERA (0.92), strikeouts (116) and innings pitched (78). Tommy's breakout summer earned Hanson 2005 WCCBL Pitcher of the Year honors and a spot on Baseball America's 2005 College Summer All-America First-Team.