Tanner Roark

Tanner B. Roark (/roʊˈɑːrk/ roh-ARK;[1] born October 5, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, and Oakland Athletics. He played college baseball at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Tanner Roark
Roark with the Washington Nationals in 2014
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 14
Pitcher
Born: (1986-10-05) October 5, 1986
Wilmington, Illinois
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 7, 2013, for the Washington Nationals
Career statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record76–67
Earned run average3.83
Strikeouts931
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World Baseball Classic
2017 Los AngelesTeam

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.[2]

Roark was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 25th round of the 2008 MLB draft.[3] On July 31, 2010, he was traded, along with Ryan Tatusko, to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Cristian Guzmán.

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.[4]

Washington Nationals
Roark pitching at Citi Field against the New York Mets in 2015

On August 6, 2013, Roark was called up to the MLB for the first time,[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] He finished 7–1 in 14 games (5 starts).[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. In 31 starts, Roark finished 15–10 with a 2.85 ERA in ​198 2⁄3 innings.[8]

Roark with the Nationals in 2018

In 2015, Roark was shifted to the bullpen after the team acquired a few starting pitchers. In 40 games (12 starts), Roark finished 4–7 with an ERA of 4.38 in 111 innings.[8]

The 2016 season saw Roark put back in the rotation and establish career bests in wins (16), ERA (2.83), innings (210) and strikeouts (172).[8] For the 2016 season he led the majors in giving up the lowest percentage of hard-hit balls (24.3%).[9]

In 2017, Roark went 13–11 despite posting a career-worst 4.67 ERA in 32 games (30 starts).[8] He struck out 166 batters in ​181 1⁄3 innings.

In 2018, Roark went 9–15 with a 4.34 ERA in ​180 1⁄3 innings.[8]

Cincinnati Reds

On December 12, 2018, the Nationals traded Roark to the Cincinnati Reds for Tanner Rainey.[10] On January 11, 2019, the Reds signed Roark to a one-year contract worth $10 million, avoiding arbitration.[11]

In 2019, Roark went 6–7 with a 4.24 ERA in 110.1 innings (21 starts) prior to being traded to the Oakland Athletics on July 31, 2019.

Oakland Athletics

On July 31, 2019, the Reds traded Roark to the Oakland Athletics for Jameson Hannah.[12]

In 2019, he allowed the highest line drive percentage of all major league pitchers (17.1%).[13]

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 18, 2019, Roark signed a two-year contract worth $24 million with the Toronto Blue Jays.[14] With the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays, Roark appeared in 11 games, compiling a 2–3 record with 6.80 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 47.2 innings pitched.[15]

International career

He was selected Team USA at the 2017 World Baseball Classic as a replacement for Max Scherzer. Roark pitched in relief versus the Dominican Republic, throwing 41 pitches over ​1 1⁄3 innings, allowing two earned runs. Roark started vs 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." [16]

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.[17]

Personal life

Roark and his wife Amanda have two daughters. They had their first son in September 2018.[18]

References
  1. Kolko, Dan. "Final notes and quotes, plus Day 4 photo gallery," masnsports.com, Tuesday, February 18, 2014.
  2. "BaseballAmerica.com: Stats: Tanner Roark". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  3. "25th Round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  4. Kilgore, Adam (September 6, 2013). "Tanner Roark prepared for first career start". Washington Post. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  5. "Nats promote Tanner Roark, option Cedeno, move Detwiler to 60-day DL," MASN Sports, August 6, 2013
  6. "Tanner Roark 2013 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  7. "Baseball | MLB | Player stats - Tanner Roark - Washington". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  8. Tanner Roark Stats | Baseball-Reference.com
  9. Major League Leaderboards » 2016 » Pitchers » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball
  10. Washington Nationals trade Tanner Roark to Cincinnati Reds for Tanner Rainey
  11. Reds' Tanner Roark: Comes to terms with Cincy
  12. "A's Acquire RHP Tanner Roark from Cincinnati for Minor League OF Jameson Hannah". MLB.com. July 31, 2019.
  13. "Major League Leaderboards » 2019 » Pitchers » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. January 1, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  14. "Roark, Blue Jays finalize 2-year deal". Toronto Blue Jays. December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  15. https://www.mlb.com/player/tanner-roark-543699
  16. James, Chelsea (March 22, 2017). "Tanner Roark throws four scoreless innings for Team USA in WBC Semifinal Win,". Washington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  17. "Player Card: Tanner Roark". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  18. "Nats' pitcher goes to paternity list for birth of second child". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
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