Former De La Salle Pitcher Works His Way Up

In some ways, Clayton Tanner likens his pitching to the crossword puzzles that occupy his daily to-do list.

He studies the clues (watches video), figures out how to attack a word (hitter) and decides whether it's best to go across or down (strike zone location). After starting out content to get a few words, he's advanced to the point that he can almost finish each puzzle.

And on the days he can't quite solve each hint?

"Sometimes, you have to bring in the closer to get the last couple of words," he said. "But I always try to get as many as I can. The longer I can go, the better my day."

Tanner has had pretty good days since graduating from De La Salle High School in 2006, then beginning his career as a third-round pick by the San Francisco Giants.

The 23-year-old lefty, who relies on location in the absence of velocity, has progressed to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels. His most recent outing was his best, when he limited New Jersey’s Trenton Thunder to four hits in eight shutout innings Sunday, July 31.

Working quickly and efficiently with his two-seam fastball to induce grounders is the best way for Tanner to succeed, according to his catcher Johnny Monell, and he did that against the Yankees' Double-A affiliate.

The outing represented a positive step for Tanner, who was making his third start since returning from a right hamstring injury. Overall, he has posted a 4-8 record with a 4.13 ERA and 104 hits allowed in 98 innings.

"It's been a tough year," Tanner said. "My ERA and win/loss record isn’t where I'd like. It's frustrating. I didn't start well, then pitched better and got hurt. It's been a bit of a snowball effect. But I feel good and now it's a matter of building my pitch count back up."

Born to American parents in Mona Vale, Australia, Tanner moved to Concord when he was six months old. Because he lacks an accent, he jokes that people in either country don't believe where he was born.

Despite living there for only a short time, Tanner hopes to display his national pride as a member of Team Australia in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he could join players like Grant Balfour, Peter Moylan, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Trent Oeltjen.

 "I'm eligible and would love to play," said Tanner, who visited during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "It would be an honor to wear the green and gold and represent the country."

Longer-term, he hopes to wear the black and orange of the 2010 defending World Series Champions as more than just a spectator.

Already on the Giants' 40-man roster — a position that gives him an advantage over a player who isn't — Tanner knows he needs significant and continued progress. 

"Your goal is always to be in San Francisco," he said. "Being on the 40-man roster, my chances are better than someone else, but if I don't perform, I'm not going to be there anyway."

Regardless of how far he goes, Tanner won't forget his hometown.

"It was great being in Concord and going to De La," he said. "If you wanted to play sports, you wanted to go there because they always had the best teams around. It taught me a lot about being a man and being respectful and prepared me for life, not just baseball."