Tommy Hanson Injury: Braves Starter Has Slight Tear In Rotator Cuff

Read More: Tommy Hanson (P - ATL), Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tommy Hanson hasn't pitched since August 6th, when he allowed seven earned runs to the New York Mets in 3-1/3 innings. On July 9, his ERA was 2.44. Twenty-six innings and 24 runs later, Hanson's barking shoulder sent him to the disabled list. He suffered a recent setback while rehabbing, and now we have a diagnosis relayed from David O'Brien from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Braves pitcher Hanson has small rotator-cuff tear, kind that often doesn't require surgery. They hope he's back in "few weeks," Wren said.

I'm not a doctor, so I don't know a think about injuries, but when I read "small rotator-cuff tear," I think about the old line about being "slightly pregnant." Still, the Braves will surely favor Hanson's long-term future over their short-term playoff run, so it's doubtful they'd taken any unnecessary risks with him. If they think he can be back in a few weeks, that's probably a sign that he might pitch again this season.

Still, rotator cuffs are weird, finicky things. A tear -- even the small kind that doesn't always require surgery -- is a little scary.