By most measures, Tommy Hanson is a young man. He’s 25 years old, without a speck of gray to be found in his full red beard. But in terms of the Braves’ starting rotation, he’s almost a grizzled veteran.
He’s 11 years younger than ace Tim Hudson. But with, Jair Jurrjens, 26, working through his struggles in Triple-A Gwinnett, Hanson is left as the second-most experienced starter on the staff.
He has made 90 starts in three years since his call-up in 2009, four fewer than Brandon Beachy (40), Randall Delgado (19) and Mike Minor (35) combined.
“I feel like I’m kind of in the middle,” Hanson said. “I’m just learning some things. I don’t obviously think I’m a veteran, but I’m not a rookie either. I don’t have anything figured out, but I know I can compete at this level and I know what I do wrong when I do it wrong.”
Those are signs that he’s coming into his own. The Braves will count on that experience Friday when they try to snap a four-game losing streak in their series opener against Baltimore.
Hanson’s last start was the last time the Braves won. He matched a career-high by pitching eight innings in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Toronto. That made him 6-0 in six career starts against the American League East, with one win each against Baltimore, Boston, New York and Toronto, and two against Tampa.
The Braves were trying to rest relievers Eric O’Flaherty and Jonny Venters that day and needed a lengthy start from Hanson.
“His last start was as big a start as we’ve had all year,” backup catcher David Ross said.
Ross caught Hanson’s previous outing in Washington when Hanson gave up two home runs in his first five pitches against the Nationals. But he never lost his cool and went scoreless from there. He pitched seven innings in the 3-2 win, the Braves’ first against the Nationals in five meetings this season.
“I just didn’t panic, where before I might have panicked,” Hanson said. “Or I might have just given in and said, ‘Ah, I just don’t have it today.’ But you can’t do that.”
Hanson and Ross realized the Nationals were looking for his fastball, so he mixed in more offspeed pitches to keep them off-balance. His approach is an area where Hanson has put in a lot of work.
“I’m learning how to pitch more,” Hanson said. “I’m doing a better job of learning when to throw certain pitches and when not to. I’m learning about myself as a pitcher and how guys are trying to hit off me and how I need to counter that.”
Hanson said that comes with experience and watching the game. He’s made a point to concentrate on how hitters attack other pitchers on the staff, especially Beachy, who has a similar repertoire.
Hanson entered the season with questions about his health after his 2011 season was cut short by shoulder soreness. But Hanson hasn’t had any problems so far this season, while going 7-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 starts. His fastball velocity is back into the low 90s, though he said it’s not a big concern of his anymore.
“I think the fastest I’ve thrown was the St. Louis game and I got shelled, so I don’t really care what my velocity is,” said Hanson who touched 93 mph while giving up a season-high six runs in 3 1/3 innings May 28. “I just want to command it.”
He has added a two-seam fastball this year that helps him go deeper into games. He got nine ground outs, compared with eight fly outs Saturday. Not bad for a fly-out, strikeout style pitcher when he came up.
Hanson is quick to say he’s still a work in progress. He learned too well last season trouble can come when all seems well. After going 10-4 with a 2.44 ERA at the All-Star break, he went 1-3 with an 8.10 ERA over his next five starts when the shoulder acted up.
“You’ve got to keep working,” Hanson said. “You’ve got to stay on the attack.”
