Tommy Hanson has fun in abbreviated spring debut

Mar 11, 2012, 7:38 PM EDT

Pitching with a new delivery and a damaged shoulder that didn't require surgery, Tommy Hanson gave up three runs — two earned — in one-plus innings Sunday against the Blue Jays in his spring debut.

Hanson turned in a one-two-three first, but he didn't retire any of the four hitters he faced in the second before a rain delay halted his outing. Some of that was the defense's fault, as Freddie Freeman committed an error behind him. Some of it was his fault, like when he gave up a two-run homer to one of baseball's worst hitters in Jeff Mathis.

"The first inning was a lot more fun than the second," Hanson told MLB.com. "I was getting balls that were soaked and wet and the mound was drenched. But it was still fun. When I was out there, I was just laughing about it because I was glad to be back out there on the mound. It was fun to compete again. It was one of those conditions where I didn't really care what happened because it didn't matter. It was almost like I was a little kid playing in the rain again."

Hanson missed the final two months of last season and was diagnosed with a minor tear in his rotator cuff. The new delivery he's working with this spring was designed to make him quicker to the plate, but it's also supposed to be easier on his shoulder.

"I felt great," Hanson said. "Obviously, my command was a little bit off, but my body felt really good. I made some good pitches at times."

Hanson is expected to open the season as the Braves' No. 2 starter.

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