Braves' Player Recap: Tommy Hanson

Today, there will be two more Braves' recaps, the first one will be on starting pitcher Tommy Hanson.
Hanson broke into the big leagues back in 2009 with Atlanta. He was the Braves' top rated pitching prospect and he showed why. He went 11-4 in his rookie season with a 2.89 ERA. Ever since then, Hanson has had a hard time showing why he was once a top rated prospect.
Hanson had a few troubles this year. One problem since his rookie season, his ERA has gone up, and it ballooned to 4.48 this season. He also lost six of his last seven decisions, which ultimately hurt the Braves down the stretch. One of his roughest games came against the Washington Nationals on July 20th. Hanson threw four innings, gave up eight hits, eight runs, walked four batters and gave up two home runs. Not quite what you would expect out of someone who was once a top prospect.
Hanson did pitch really well at the beginning of the season, and a lot of experts thought he got snubbed when he didn't make the All-Star team. One of his best outings came against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 9th, when he pitched eight innings, gave up only two runs on five hits and struck out four. Hanson also set a personal mark, winning thirteen games, the most ever for him in a season. He finished the year at 13-10 with the 4.48 ERA and had 161 strikeouts.
Hanson's place with the Braves looks cloudy for next season. Tim Hudson, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor and Paul Maholm are locked in the rotation. Hanson needs to have a good spring to beat out Randall Delgado and Julio Teheran for the fifth spot in the rotation. Brandon Beachy will return in late June or July though and could knock Hanson out of the rotation if he makes it.
He needs to pitch well, if he makes the rotation, to stick around with the Braves, otherwise he could be used as trade bait next year at the trade deadline. There is also the possibility that the Braves will want to improve their team this offseason via trade. If that's the case, Hanson could leave sooner.