The Detroit Tigers have signed Alistair Tanner to a minor league contract. The 18-year-old is set to graduate high school later this year and was initially committed to Arizona State University.
Tanner is a right-handed pitcher who has played internationally and in the Australian Baseball League. He made his ABL debut this season as a developmental player and made four scoreless appearances.
“His fastball has since been logged at 95 miles per hour, his curveball spin rate is higher than major league average, and he possesses four different pitches – a fastball, curveball, slider and a splitter,” wrote baseball.com.au‘s Eric Balner.
His talent did not go unnoticed, as he was the youngest member of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup team in 2023. He made two starts with a 1.50 ERA and had six strikeouts in the tournament. He picked up another six strikeouts at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in 2024.
The Tigers are not strangers to signing talent from Australia. The organization signed Jack Bushell to start the year as part of their international crop. Bushell had a 2.84 ERA in the Florida Complex League with 11 strikeouts. Tanner will now join him in the organization’s minor league system.
“The South Australian teen says the Tigers have been in touch for several years, keeping a close eye on him through his rise up the Australian ranks, and he’s felt comfortable with them since day one,” wrote Balner.
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WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: Lauren Finch
