Former pitcher Hanson passes away at 29

Tommy Hanson finished his career with a 49-35 record, 3.80 ERA and 648 strikeouts.ATLANTA -- Many members of the baseball world are understandably reacting to Tommy Hanson's premature death with shock and sadness. The former Major Leaguer, who pitched for the Braves and Angels, was just 29.

A Braves representative confirmed that some of Hanson's former teammates were near Hanson when he passed away at Atlanta's Piedmont Hospital late Monday night.

"Devastated" was the simple and fitting response one of Hanson's closest friends provided as he attempted to deal with the grief early Tuesday morning. This seemed to be a popular sentiment among the many who had the pleasure of knowing the big…