Tanner Roark

Tanner Roark
Roark with the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals – No. 57
Pitcher
Born: (1986-10-05) October 5, 1986
Wilmington, Illinois
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 7, 2013, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record 64–54
Earned run average 3.59
Strikeouts 732
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World Baseball Classic
2017 Los AngelesTeam

Tanner B. Roark (/roʊˈɑːrk/ roh-ARK;[1] born October 5, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. He played college baseball at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2006–2007.[2]

Roark with the Nationals in 2018

Professional career

Early career

Roark played one season with the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League in 2008. In 3 games, he was 0–2 with a 21.41 ERA. In just 9.2 innings, he gave up 23 hits along with 25 runs while striking out 11.[3]

Roark was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 25th round of the 2008 Amateur Player Draft.[4] In July 2010, he was traded along with Ryan Tatusko to the Nationals for Cristian Guzman.

In 2011, he was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, and posted, in 28 games (26 starts) an unremarkable 6–17 record, but he posted a 4.39 ERA with 7.9 strikeouts and 2.9 walks per nine innings. He began the 2012 season in Syracuse as a starter, then joined the bullpen for 20 relief appearances. Roark moved back to the rotation and had the best stretch of his career, allowing only 12 earned runs over ​48 2⁄3 innings in eight starts.[5]

Washington Nationals

On August 6, 2013, Roark was called up to the majors for the first time,[6] and on the next day pitched two innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit. By the end of August he had appeared in nine games in relief, allowing earned runs only twice, and compiling an ERA of 1.19 over ​22 2⁄3 innings. On September 7 Roark made his first major league start against the Miami Marlins, pitching six innings, allowing no runs and four hits, no walks, and four strikeouts, getting the win.[7] Roark's dominance continued with a September 17 start against the rival Atlanta Braves in which he pitched seven innings and allowed no runs on just three baserunners. His ERA dropped to 1.08 in ​41 2⁄3 innings.[8] On April 26, 2014, Roark threw his first career complete game shutout (with a perfect game until the 6th), allowing only 3 hits in a 4–0 win over the San Diego Padres.

Roark pitching at Citi Field against the New York Mets

2017 World Baseball Classic

Roark pitched in relief versus the Dominican Republic, throwing 41 pitches over ​1 1⁄3 innings, allowing two earned runs.

Roark started vs Team Japan in the 2017 WBC semifinals. Roark, who described it as the biggest start of his career, threw 48 pitches over four complete innings, allowing no runs. Under an agreement between Team USA and the Nationals, Roark was limited to no more than 50 pitches. Team USA defeated Japan 2-1 for their first win in WBC semifinal history. Team USA manager Jim Leyland praised Roark's performance post-game saying, "The key tonight, without question, was Tanner Roark. There is no question about that." [9]

Pitching style

Roark's main pitch is a sinker at 92 mph (topping out at 96). Against right-handed hitters, he also features a slider at 85 mph. Against lefties he mixes in a curveball at 77 mph and a changeup at 82 mph. He also has a little-used four-seam fastball at 92 mph.[10]

Personal life

Roark and his wife Amanda have two daughters they had their first son in September of 2018.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Kolko, Dan. "Final notes and quotes, plus Day 4 photo gallery," masnsports.com, Tuesday, February 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Fighting Illini in Major League Baseball". Illinois Baseball. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  3. ↑ "BaseballAmerica.com: Stats: Tanner Roark". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ "25th Round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Kilgore, Adam (September 6, 2013). "Tanner Roark prepared for first career start". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "Nats promote Tanner Roark, option Cedeno, move Detwiler to 60-day DL," MASN Sports, August 6, 2013
  7. ↑ "Tanner Roark 2013 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "Baseball | MLB | Player stats - Tanner Roark - Washington". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  9. ↑ James, Chelsea (March 22, 2017). ""Tanner Roark throws four scoreless innings for Team USA in WBC Semifinal Win,"". Washington Post. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "Player Card: Tanner Roark". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "Nats' pitcher goes to paternity list for birth of second child". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.