WPIAL Alum Q&A – Tanner Wilt

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, April 25, 2016 | 11:27 PM

While many WPIAL athletes have overcome significant obstacles to have success at the college level, there are not many that rival the unusual path that Tanner Wilt has taken. Wilt was an elite pitcher for North Allegheny’s baseball team, but struggled with off-the-field issues and multiple injuries, and even briefly lost his ability to complete basic throws. He persevered, however, and now he’s enjoying an incredible run with LaRoche College.

Wilt made significant contributions early in his tenure with the Tigers, including aiding in his team’s run to the WPIAL Class Quad-A Championship in 2009. The following campaign, North Allegheny again reached the finals, and Wilt was a major factor in the success that season, going 5-1 on the mound. For his efforts, he was named an All-Conference selection, and a top-10 player in the WPIAL.

Following that season, Wilt attended a national showcase in Yankee Stadium in New York. During this event, Wilt suddenly and inexplicably lost his ability to locate his pitches, similar for former MLB players such as Steve Blass and Mark Wohlers.

As a result, Wilt had to overcome that mental hurdle, along with a shoulder ailment, before returning to the field with the Tigers during the 2011 season. He was impressive upon his return, but the team had already lost a number of games, and failed to qualify for the postseason.

Wilt concluded his career at North Allegheny with a mark of 12-1, including nine saves. He decided against his original commitment to Coastal Carolina, and was a late addition to the University of Pittsburgh baseball team.

With the Panthers as a freshman, Wilt pitched very effectively out of the bullpen, notching six saves in 16 appearances, and posting an earned run average of 4.08. In 2013, though, he appeared in just four games before leaving the program.

Wilt transferred to a community college in Arizona, but was plagued by significant arm ailments that ultimately required Tommy John surgery.

In the 2015 season, Wilt joined the LaRoche Redhawks, and pitched very effectively as a junior, boasting a mark of 4-1 and a sub-2 ERA.

This season, Wilt has been even better, as he’s 5-2 with an ERA of 1.42. His peripheral numbers are stellar, too, as he’s struck out 67 batters in just over 50 innings. As a result, the team has compiled a record of 28-8.

Tanner took time in between starts to answer an array of questions about his incredible path, as well as the differences between starting and relieving, and what advice he’d provide to a young player.

Q: You have been excellent in your two seasons at LaRoche. What has been the key to your success with the Redhawks?

A: I would say just getting comfortable on the mound competing again. It took a few times out early last year after basically two years of not pitching to get that confidence back against hitters. Since then, I have just been able to command the fastball well and throw a lot of strikes. You do that, good things will happen at any level.

Q: What pitches do you feature, and do you have an “out” pitch?

A: I have a four-seam and a two-seam fastball with some sink on it, curveball, a cutter that has some slider-like action, and a changeup. I would like to say my fastball is my out pitch with my ability to locate, but this year my curveball has become like it was before I got hurt, so that has been big for me, as well.

Q: What has been the biggest difference between Division III baseball compared to playing in the Big East with Pittsburgh?

A: I have a different role here than I did with Pitt. It would be easier to compare the two if I was a starter with both programs. Obviously, there is a big difference between big time Division I baseball and Division III, but not as much as I thought there would be. There are a lot of great players at this level who have hit me as hard as anyone. But there are also kids I face now who I can just blow away with fastballs, and that never really happened at Pitt.

Q: You battled a severe arm injury that affected you for multiple seasons. How were you able to finally overcome that setback?

A: It has definitely been a grind getting back to this point. Even last year, I was dealing with discomfort throughout the year coming back from Tommy John surgery and it even cut my season two weeks short. I have always worked hard at this game, but I had to take things to another level if I wanted to come back better than ever. I have done a good job at taking care of my body and putting the time in the gym to be in the best shape possible. I am also blessed to have amazing parents who have given me all the resources I need to get the best care possible to help me along the way. I also have an awesome Physical Therapist, Aimee Slattery, at Vesla 360 in Cranberry, who I still see weekly to help keep me at 100 percent. She did all my rehab from the surgery, as well.

Q: In retrospect, how do you view your time with the Panthers?

A: This is a tough question, man. When I think about my time there, as I do everyday, I feel all kinds of different emotions. I cannot thank Coach Jordano at Pitt enough for the opportunity he gave me there. I was not in the best shape mentally or physically when I showed up in Oakland as a freshman, but they welcomed me with open arms and it led to a pretty successful first year for myself. My sophomore year was a different story. A lot was going on in my personal life during that year and it all seemed to spiral out of control once I hurt my arm. A lot of people don’t know that I was also dealing with a nagging lower back issue that was hindering my delivery, which I think had a lot to do with the start of my arm issues. I worked tirelessly to try and come back that season, but once I got back to being game ready, the elbow flared up again. At this point, I was struggling pretty bad in school, and that and some other factors led to me deciding a change of scenery would be best for me. It was tough at the time, but looking back on it I know I am a better person from the time I spent at Pitt. I just wish I could have handled some things differently when I was there, but I have a lot of great memories from my time there and I still spend a good amount of time down in Oakland.

Q: Do you still have baseball aspirations after your senior season concludes?

A: No doubt. I feel like I just got started again and have a ton of baseball left in me. I am hoping I am lucky enough for a professional team to give me a chance, whether it is through the draft or a free agent signing. That has been my goal since I picked up a ball to be a professional baseball player and I feel like I am finally close. If it doesn’t happen, there’s nothing I can do but keep working hard. I am in the process of applying for another year of eligibility, so if that happens there is a good chance I could be back here next year. If not, I am open to playing for an Independent League team.

Q: What is your typical throwing schedule for a week, and do you have any innings or pitch limits?

A: It has varied this year with the weather. Sometimes I am on five days rest and sometimes I have a full week, which my last few starts have been. Now I am good for 100-plus pitches every time out and that is a great feeling to be able to do that again.

Q: How did pitching in relief for Pitt compare to now starting for LaRoche, and do you have a preference?

A: There is definitely a huge difference mindset and preparation wise, but honestly, I love both. It was hard getting used to being a starter again last year, but once I did it has been smooth sailing. Once you are in the game though, there really isn’t much of a difference. The objective is still the same: get the guy out. As a starter, though, you gotta do that a bunch more times, haha. So they are definitely both tough in their own right. The margin for error is just a lot smaller as a late inning bullpen guy.

Q: What was your fondest memory at North Allegheny?

A: I have a lot of great memories from my time as part of the baseball program at NA, but also a lot of regrets. What happened during my senior year bums me out still to this day. We had arguably the most talented team during my career there, and did not even make it to the playoffs, and a lot of that was on me. I was dealing with shoulder tightness and a mental issue known as the “yips” which was prohibiting me from even playing catch for a little while. It is hard for people to understand unless you have dealt with it, but it can be pretty devastating to an athlete. Those two issues combined kept me from pitching the first few weeks of the season, and we lost a couple of big section games during that time. I returned to the mound in great form for the rest of the year and we went on a roll as a team, but we came up short, and that was a huge disappointment, because I felt like I let the whole program down. We could have done amazing things that year.

Q: Do you still keep an eye on the performance of the Tigers baseball team or any other NA athletics?

A: I did follow the baseball team for a few years after I graduated. I made it out to a decent amount of games and they had some great teams after I left. Recently, though, I have kind of fell out of touch with it all. I really wish they would do more to keep the alumni of the program involved a little bit, because I gladly would. My teammates and I gave so much time and energy and worked so hard to try and win games for the school, and it would be nice if they would recognize and remember us a little bit. There have been some outstanding players and teams to step out on that field in the last several years.

Q: Who is your favorite MLB player?

A: Zack Grienke. He does not have overpowering stuff, but is still one of the best in the game. He locates the ball like no other. I try to watch a lot of film on him because you can really learn a lot from watching the guys on TV.

Q: Do you have a pre-game meal routine?

A: I have been pitching a lot of 1 p.m. games this year, so getting a good breakfast is key. My mom usually whips me up 5-6 eggs before I head to the field or bus. During games, I usually eat a little something in between every inning. I really think it helps me maintain and get stronger throughout the game.

Q: What is your favorite sports movie?

A: Remember The Titans. Basically, I have this movie memorized from how many times I watched it as a kid.

Q: Do you use social media and if so, which do you prefer?

A: I actually am not a huge fan of social media at all. But I use Facebook a little bit, and I love Snapchat because it is really just your fiends and people you know. I am not a Twitter or Instagram guy at all.

Q: What advice would you give to a current high school player who intends to continue his playing career?

A: I would say go for it 100 percent and give the game everything you have, and it will reward you. Do not listen to anyone outside your immediate circle and do not let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough, too small, or don’t throw hard enough, or anything else like that. If anything negative is going on in your life, use your time at the field or the weight room or the locker room with your friends as an outlet. This game can do beautiful things for your life, trust me.

Tags: LaRoche