Tommy Hanson Showing Signs of Improvement

Tommy Hanson is hoping to return for the Atlanta Braves before the end of the regular season.  Yesterday Hanson provided some backing for his hopefulness, as the right-hander completed another successful side session in Atlanta.

Hanson has been out since the beginning of August, dealing with shoulder tendinitis.  It’s the second time he’s hit the disabled list due to the injury, as Hanson also missed two weeks of action in June.

After returning from his first stint on the DL, Hanson appeared to pick up right where he left off.  Allowing a combined 5 earned runs over 20 innings of work, Hanson lowered his ERA to 2.44.

But Hanson’s luck quickly turned.  Over his next 5 starts Hanson surrendered run totals of 5, 6, 3, 3, and finally 7.  Hanson left that last outing after only 3.1 innings, his earned run average having ballooned to 3.60.

After learning of a small tear in his rotator cuff and not showing much improvement while rehabbing, many became uncertain if Hanson would pitch again for the Braves in 2011.

But Hanson’s now put together a string of successful side sessions.  Assuming his arm responds well to yesterday’s work, Hanson could either log another session or make a rehab appearance in an instructional league game.

It’s become evident over the past month that the Braves are not the same team we have seen for the majority of the 2011 season.  Hanson’s absence along with the struggles of top of the rotation mate Jair Jurrjens have had a lot to do with Atlanta’s recent troubles.  Over their last 14 games, the Braves have only gone 5-9, dropping within reach (4.5 games) of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Wild Card race.

For more on the Braves, be sure to check out Tomahawk Take.