Get to Know Twins Draft Pick RHP Tanner Hall

[Ted Schwerzler]

It’s hard to narrow in on any one school when it comes to the Major League Baseball Draft, but the Minnesota Twins have certainly had some success in drafting Southern Miss players the past few years. They went back to the Golden Eagles with their fourth-round pick this year in grabbing Tanner Hall.

 

Image courtesy of Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Not long after selecting Minnesota native Matt Wallner (2019), and then pitcher Ben Ethridge (2022), the Twins made Tanner Hall their fourth-round selection at 114th overall in the 2023 draft. Another arm that could win up being a strong contributor throughout the organization in years to come, Hall leaves school as decorated as they come.

Southern Miss is no stranger to strong college baseball teams, and this year Hall led Division 1 baseball with 12 wins. He posted a career-best 2.48 ERA and earned himself Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year honors having just moved to the new conference. Looking forward to a new challenge at the pro level, it’s clear he’s ready to get going.

Recently, I had the privilege of catching up with the Southern Miss star. Here’s what he had to say:

Twins Daily: What about 2023 and the steps you took in what was a very impressive final season with the Golden Eagles set you up for professional baseball success?

Tanner Hall: I had a pretty good year, and Southern Miss was a school I was passionate about. It meant a lot to me throughout the whole season. I knew I wanted to work hard and have wanted to play professional baseball my whole life. It wasn’t hard to convince myself to want to work for it. The level we played at, the competition we played, making regionals and hosting super regionals, it got me very prepared for that next level.

TD: Do you feel like there was a change going from Conference USA to the Sun Belt?

TH: I think the competition got a little bit better in the Sun Belt. I think there were a few better teams, but I didn’t treat it any different. I was excited because I was facing a bunch of lineups that had never seen me before. The Sun Belt did have more talent, and it was tougher to get wins out of that conference. We did end up dominating and showing who we were.

TD: You’ve put up gaudy strikeout numbers and avoided walks. How do you attack hitters and what does your arsenal look like?

TH: Whenever I’m on the mound, I think to myself if I’m going to get beat, I’m going to make them beat me with their bats. I throw a sinker, a changeup, a slider, and I want to develop a cutter here soon. I want to add that to my arsenal as well. My go-to pitches have been my sinker and changeup. I use the sinker to get ahead and the changeup to finish them off.

TD: The changeup is a pitch the Twins have been notable in focusing on. Obviously Johan Santana was one of the best to ever use it. How do you feel like that pitch is such a strong out pitch for you in a game where velocity has been the focal point?

TH: I try to simplify the game itself, I’m just trying to get each guy out. It doesn’t matter if you’re getting them out with a 99 mph pitch or a 90 mph pitch. The changeup is a pitch I’ve had to use my whole life because I’ve never really thrown that hard. It’s been a differentiator for me because I’ve been able to plus and minus. I always have that pitch in the back of a hitter’s mind. You have guys getting late on fastballs, and I’m not throwing it hard enough to make them late, but it’s because of the changeup that makes it tough on them.

TD: Stepping up to the next level of professional baseball, what are you most excited about developing both as a pitcher and an individual?

TH: I’m really excited to develop into a true professional and perfect my pitches. I want to gain a little velocity, and being with the Twins, that’s something that is easily possible as they have a track record of doing so. I’m excited to get it started. I want all of my pitches to be elite pitches, and I want to make a name for myself with the Twins.

TD: Being from Louisiana, what do you know about the Twins, the organization, Minnesota, Target Field, that sort of thing?

TH: Honestly, I don’t know that much. I didn’t know much about any teams except for a couple around here like the Marlins or the Braves. At the end of the day, this is a dream come true for me. This is everything I have been working for my whole life. With the Twins wanting to give me a call, I’m going to show there’s a reason they wanted me to go play. I feel like I’ve been kind of an underdog since I was young. It’s going to be fun to go out and play for a team I don’t know too much about. They have history of Southern Miss guys with Wallner and Ethridge. I’ll have support behind me while I’m there, and I’ll be supporting them as well. It’s going to be fun, and it’s going to be exciting to get to know what Minnesota is like and what the Twins are all about.

TD: Outside of baseball, off the diamond, what are you doing to get away or keep loose?

TH: I like to play golf. I like to watch movies, go to the mall, and play frisbee golf. Anything active outside I’ll go do. Golf is probably the number one thing for me, that’s something I really enjoy.

Welcome to Twins Territory, Tanner!

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[Mike Sixel]

Anyone that loves golf that much is a good pick....

[Dman]

I really love this guys attitude and his past success bodes well for his future.  Just keep that arm healthy and he has a real good chance to make it IMO.

 

[jmlease1]

I'm always enthusiastic about pitching prospects with a deadly changeup. It's such a fun pitch.

Interesting that the twins drafted him once and are returning there after college for him. I hope that means they know more about him than other clubs and are getting a steal!

[AlwaysinModeration]

I actually saw Tanner Hall pitch in a game at Coastal Carolina in April.  He gave up 7 walks and 5 runs in 3 innings.  Apparently his only loss in conference all year, and more than 20% of his walks all year.

Not sure what to make of that.  Hopefully he does well for the Twins.

[DocBauer]

Seems like a very bright kid. Love the attitude and determination.  Already knows what he wants to do, add velocity...which he knows the Twins are known for...and already knows he wants to add a cutter to his arsenal.

Keep seems to be "plugged" in to his future career already.

Different change, but does he remind you of Ryan?

[IndianaTwin]

44 minutes ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

I actually saw Tanner Hall pitch in a game at Coastal Carolina in April.  He gave up 7 walks and 5 runs in 3 innings.  Apparently his only loss in conference all year, and more than 20% of his walks all year.

Not sure what to make of that.  Hopefully he does well for the Twins.

What I make of it is, “Stay home on nights he pitches. Sounds like you were the jinx!” 😄

[ashbury]

Golf's gonna ruin his swing.

[Doctor Wu]

9 hours ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

I actually saw Tanner Hall pitch in a game at Coastal Carolina in April.  He gave up 7 walks and 5 runs in 3 innings.  Apparently his only loss in conference all year, and more than 20% of his walks all year.

Not sure what to make of that.  Hopefully he does well for the Twins.

Let's hope that the game you saw was the worst of his pitching career! In any case, good to get feedback like that. From reading the main article he sounds like another bright young man. Go out and challenge those batters!

[weitz41]

MLB.com says he signed for 510K.