Wilmington graduate Tanner Roark was chosen by the Texas Rangers today in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
“I’m really excited to pursue my dream,” Roark said. “I can’t wait to start playing ball again.”
Roark, who helped lead the Wildcats to two state championships in three years, said that he had not been contacted by anybody affiliated with the Rangers ballclub before being selected with the 753rd overall pick, but expects team scout Derek Lee to call him Saturday.
“I didn’t know when I was going to get picked up or whatnot,” he said. “I was just waiting to see name on the Internet.”
The waiting became pretty tough for Roark, who had heard whispers he would be selected somewhere between rounds 8-12. When those rounds went by and gave way to rounds 13-20, the former University of Illinois ace could hardly stand it.
“I was just waiting and waiting,” he said. “Later in the day I was starting to get frustrated and I couldn’t watch it anymore. I started watching the College World Series.”
Tanner’s father, Toby, didn’t give up that easily. He had a laptop and was aware immediately when his son was chosen.
“My dad yelled out, ‘Tanner Roark, Texas Rangers,’” Roark said. “It brightened up my day.”
Roark, who plans to sign soon, isn’t sure where he’ll go, though he suspects Spokane, Wash, site of the Rangers’ Low-A affiliate, could be where he’s headed. The team’s rookie squad in Surprise, Ariz. is also quite possible.
Being drafted is a happy end to what has been been a rocky year for Roark, who left the Fighting Illini for academic reasons before the season started and pitched for the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League.
“Someone’s looking out for me up above, I know that,” he said. “It’s amazing that I got another chance to prove myself.”
But what could have been a negative may actually be a positive, as Roark says his time in the Frontier League will help him as he begins his minor league career.
“Those guys, they’ve been through Double-A and Single-A,” he said. “They don’t chase pitches. It was a learning experience for me. It was definitely a step above college ball.”