[4] Hanson graduated in June 2004, instead electing to continue his post-secondary education at Riverside City College.

[9][self-published source] He also had a 2.09 earned run average (ERA) with a 0.99 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) ratio.

Midway through the season, Hanson was called up to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, also a Class A team for the Atlanta Braves.

In his first start, Hanson pitched five no-hit innings and recorded a then career-best 13 strikeouts (later broken in Double-A that year).

At Mississippi, Hanson threw a no-hitter in his ninth start while also setting a new career high for strikeouts with 14.

Following the Minor League season, Hanson won the MiLBY for Class A Advanced Single Game Performance.

[16] In the 2008 offseason, the Atlanta Braves were one of multiple teams that were interested in trading for San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy.

[17][18] He was considered by Baseball America to be the top prospect in the Braves' farm system heading into the 2009 season.

[10] Hanson was called up by the Atlanta Braves on June 3, 2009 after the team cut Tom Glavine.

[21] He gave up two home runs to Ryan Braun, the first being the initial hit allowed in Hanson's major league career.

[22] On June 28, he threw six scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox, allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks to improve his career major league record to 4–0 and lowered his ERA to 2.48.

[35] The pitcher who initially set the record of 14 strikeouts at Minute Maid Park was Bud Norris.

[36] At the All-Star break, Hanson led the league in opponents' batting average (.190), was fourth in ERA (2.44), third in K/9 (9.5), second in WHIP (1.016), and tied for third in wins (10).

After returning and making two starts, he was granted a three-week personal leave to deal with what he described as his "mental issues with the death".

[46] On April 7, 2014, Hanson agreed to a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.

[52] An autopsy report concluded that Hanson died from "delayed complications of cocaine and alcohol toxicity", and his death was ruled an accident.