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I’ll come clean, I don’t always post every autograph I get.  Mixed in among the posts you see here on the blog are numerous autographs of various minor leaguers and major league role players.  Last summer I was able to obtain a few autographs from Tommy Hanson (an 8×10, a ball, and a few cards) while the Mississippi Braves were in town to play the Smokies.  I never got around to posting that one, and seeing the way he has rocketed up the prospect rankings I thought I would go back and retroactively post these. 

As I mentioned, Hanson has rocketed up the prospect rankings due to a 2008 season that saw him go 11 - 5 with a 2.41 ERA between A and AA ball.  Most noteworthy of his 11 wins was a 14 K no-hitter at Double-A Mississippi.  He capped off his incredible 2008 season by becoming the first pitcher to win MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League which features some of the best prospects in baseball.  His reward: a spring-training invite to the big leagues and a chance to make the opening day roster. 

Here are a few links on Hanson’s rise to stardom:
- Hanson Nearly Unhittable, Definitely Untouchable
- Hanson Tops Off an Overwhelming Year
- The Next Smoltz? Braves Eager to Show Off Hanson

Also, here are a few links on his first spring training appearance:
- Hanson’s Stuff Looks Stellar
- Tommy Hanson Clocked at 99mph in Debut