Tanner Roark, Starting Pitcher

Date of Birth: 10/5/1986
Birthplace: Wilmington, Illinois
College: University of Illinois

Tanner Roark, starting pitcher, started his professional baseball career in 2008 when he played for an independent league. Later that year, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers. He played in the Rangers' minor league system from 2008 until July, 2010, when he was traded to the Washington Nationals.

Roark split his time in 2013 between the minor leagues and the Nationals. He finished his minor league career with a 49-42 record, 573 strikeouts to 207 walks, and a 4.04 ERA in 166 games. In 2013, he pitched 53.2 innings in 14 games with the Nationals and he finished the season with a 7-1 record and an impressive 1.51 ERA.

In 2014, his first full season in the major leagues, Roark pitched 198.2 innings in 31 games. He finished the season with a 15-10 record, 138 strikeouts to 39 walks, and a 2.85 ERA. In the postseason, he pitched 2.2 innings in 2 games and he gave up 3 hits, 1 run, and 1 home run.

Roark pitched out of the Nationals' starting rotation and their bullpen in 2015. He finished the season with a 4-7 record, 1 save, 70 strikeouts to 26 walks, and a 4.38 ERA in 111.0 innings in 40 games.

Roark had a good 2016 season, finishing with a 2.83 ERA in 34 games. He had career highs in wins (16 to 10 losses) and strikeouts (172 to 73 walks) in 210.0 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 4.1 innings in 1 game and he gave up 7 hits and 2 runs.

Roark had a 4.67 ERA in 32 games with the Nationals in 2017. He finished the season with 13 wins and 11 losses and 166 strikeouts to 64 walks in 181.1 innings. He didn't pitch in the postseason.

Roark finished the 2018 season with 9 wins and 15 losses, 146 strikeouts to 50 walks, and a 4.34 ERA in 180.1 innings in 31 games.

The Nationals traded Roark to the Cincinnati Reds on December 12, 2018. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics on July 31, 2019. He finished the 2019 season with a 10-10 record, 158 strikeouts to 51 walks, and a 4.35 ERA in 21 games with the Reds and 10 games with the Athletics. He didn't play in the postseason.

Roark became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on December 18th. He finished the 2020 season with 2 wins and 3 losses, 41 strikeouts to 23 walks, and a 6.80 ERA in 47.2 innings in 11 games.

The Blue Jays released Roark on May 3, 2021. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on May 11th. He pitched in just 3 games with the Blue Jays in 2021. While with the Braves, he pitched only in the minors.

Roark became a free agent on September 5, 2021.

Career pitching statistics for Roark through 2021 include:

• 227 games played
• 1155.0 innings pitched
• 76-68 win-loss record
• 936 strikeouts to 339 walks
• 3.85 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Tanner Roark
ESPN - Tanner Roark