Dennis Tankersley

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #2 prospect in 2002
  Tankersley was an unknown when the Padres stole him from the Red Sox in a June 2000 trade for fading veteran Ed Sprague. He immediately blossomed into one of the game's top pitching prospects. Managers rated him the No. 1 prospect in the high Class A California League last year; he reached Triple-A before his arm tired in August. Tankersley can throw four pitches for strikes, and most of them are nasty. He can reach the mid-90s with his four-seam fastball, and his sinking two-seamer arrives in the low 90s. Hitters can't sit on his fastball because he has a mid-80s slider that was rated the best breaking ball in the Cal League. Tankersley's changeup lags behind his other three pitches, though it's getting better as he starts to use it more often. He may need to add strength after fading in Triple-A. Tankersley could get a long look for the big league rotation in spring training. It's more likely that he'll get work at Portland before joining San Diego during the season.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #9 prospect in 2001
  Few trades work out better than the one in which the Padres sent Ed Sprague to the Red Sox last June. San Diego received two players: shortstop Cesar Saba, who ranked No. 8 on Boston's 2000 Top 10 Prospects list, and the unheralded Tankersley, who developed into a far better prospect. After switching organizations, Tankersley had nearly twice as many double-digit strikeout outings (five) as he did games in which he allowed more than two runs (three). Making the deal look worse for the Red Sox, they released Sprague in August and the Padres re-signed him. Tankersley's out pitch is a two-seam fastball that arrives at 91-92 mph and dives toward the plate. He's also capable of throwing a four-seamer that tops out at 94-95 mph. His slider and curveball are effective, and he throws all three pitches for strikes to both sides of the plate. His deceptive delivery has been compared to Kevin Appier's. Tankersley has yet to run into any roadblocks as a pro. His primary need is experience, though like any pitcher, he'll need to improve his command and consistency to enjoy continued success as he rises through the minors. Tankersley is yet another example of the Red Sox underestimating the worth of their prospects before including them in trades. He likely will start 2001 in the California League. His age and past performance make him a candidate to reach Double-A Mobile by the end of the year.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #14 prospect in 2002
  In 2001, Tankersley had the best season of any minor league pitcher not named Josh Beckett. He started well this year in Double-A, then lost his confidence when he got hammered in the majors. He regrouped only partially when demoted to Portland. Tankersley slider was still a strikeout pitch, and PCL managers rated it the best breaking ball in the league. But he didn't command his low-90s fastball, which lacked life, and he still doesn't have much of an offspeed pitch. If he can get back to where he was a year ago, Tankersley still can be a successful big league starter, but Jake Peavy and Oliver Perez clearly have passed him in San Diego's plans. The AL scout thinks Tankersley has a lot of effort in his delivery and would be better suited for relief. He didn't fare much better in that role when he got a second chance with San Diego.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #10 prospect in 2002
  Tankersley took a step back when he was promoted to San Diego in mid-May, and again when he moved up to Triple-A in late June. But in his two brief stints in Mobile, he was every bit as dominant as he had been in 2001, when he was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Hitters continued to chase his dastardly slider and he threw his fastball in the low 90s. Tankersley permitted more than two earned runs just twice in 10 starts and yielded just one homer. After pitching well in his first two big league outings, he got hit hard and seemed to lose some confidence and command.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #6 prospect in 2001
  Not unlike Kennedy, Tankersley surprised many observers, including his employer. Acquired by the Padres midway through the 2000 campaign, he was considered a throw-in as part of a deal with the Red Sox for Ed Sprague. Tankersley, however, proved to be a late bloomer. This year he drew comparisons to Kevin Brown and Greg Maddux after a midseason promotion to the Southern League. Managers loved his determination on the mound and his willingness to throw inside to righties with his two-seam fastball. He also intimidated hitters with his easy three-quarters arm angle that produces 93-95 mph fastballs and sliders in the 88-90 mph range. "He's an electric pitcher who has a live fastball and really knows how to pitch," West Tenn manager Dave Bialas said. "He went through us like butter. He stood out as one of the top pitching prospects in the league. I think the Padres hit the jackpot with him."
• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 2001
  Probably the most telling fact about Tankersley's dominance in his short-lived Cal League stint was the fact that Lancaster manager Scott Coolbaugh nominated him for this list. The JetHawks never faced him. "We felt lucky just to get a run off him," San Bernardino manager Darren Brown said. He should have. Tankersley never allowed more than one run in any start and only three earned runs in 52 innings before his promotion to Double-A Mobile and eventually Triple-A Portland, where he was shut down in August with a tired arm. His overpowering fastball, which comes in both the two- and four-seam varieties, was too much for Cal League hitters. Tankersley's ability to throw breaking pitches for strikes should give him an opportunity to win a spot in San Diego's starting rotation come spring training.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #12 prospect in 2000
  Johnson wasn’t the only MWL prospect acquired by the Padres during the season. They traded Ed Sprague to the Red Sox for shortstop Cesar Saba and Tankersley in June. Someone in the San Diego scouting department deserves a tip of the cap, because Tankersley went from unknown to untouchable almost overnight. Tankersley had nearly twice as many double-digit strikeout outings (five) as he did games with more than two earned runs (three) in his 12 Fort Wayne starts. His heavy sinker was one of the nastiest pitches in the league, and he was able to throw strikes to both sides of the plate. Tankersley’s delivery and movement reminded Benavides of Kevin Appier. "He’s been unbelievable for us," Colbert said. "He tops out at 94-95 mph, and he can throw 91-92 with really good sink. He also has a slider and a changeup, and all three of his pitches are good."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2002

• December, 2001 Scouting Report
  Tankersley was an unknown when the Padres stole him from the Red Sox in a June 2000 trade for fading veteran Ed Sprague. He immediately blossomed into one of the game's top pitching prospects. Managers rated him the No. 1 prospect in the high Class A California League last year; he reached Triple-A before his arm tired in August. Tankersley can throw four pitches for strikes, and most of them are nasty. He can reach the mid-90s with his four-seam fastball, and his sinking two-seamer arrives in the low 90s. Hitters can't sit on his fastball because he has a mid-80s slider that was rated the best breaking ball in the Cal League. Tankersley's changeup lags behind his other three pitches, though it's getting better as he starts to use it more often. He may need to add strength after fading in Triple-A. Tankersley could get a long look for the big league rotation in spring training. It's more likely that he'll get work at Portland before joining San Diego during the season.
• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Johnson wasn’t the only MWL prospect acquired by the Padres during the season. They traded Ed Sprague to the Red Sox for shortstop Cesar Saba and Tankersley in June. Someone in the San Diego scouting department deserves a tip of the cap, because Tankersley went from unknown to untouchable almost overnight. Tankersley had nearly twice as many double-digit strikeout outings (five) as he did games with more than two earned runs (three) in his 12 Fort Wayne starts. His heavy sinker was one of the nastiest pitches in the league, and he was able to throw strikes to both sides of the plate. Tankersley’s delivery and movement reminded Benavides of Kevin Appier. "He’s been unbelievable for us," Colbert said. "He tops out at 94-95 mph, and he can throw 91-92 with really good sink. He also has a slider and a changeup, and all three of his pitches are good."