Dennis Lee Tankersley (born February 24, 1979) is a former

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

. From 2002 through 2004, Tankersley played for the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

. He batted and threw right-handed.

Career

Tankersley was drafted by the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

in the 38th round of the

1997 Major League Baseball draft The 1997 Major League Baseball draft, was an annual choosing of high school and college baseball players, held on June 2 and 3, 1997. A total of 1607 players were drafted over the course of 92 rounds. First round selections Supplemental first ...

, but did not sign. The following year, he was drafted by the Red Sox, yet again in the 38th round, and this time he did sign. In June 2000, he was traded along with Cesar Saba to the Padres for Ed Sprague. Before the 2005 season, the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

acquired Tankersley and

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch ...

Terrence Long Terrence Deon Long (born February 29, 1976) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2006 for the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, and N ...

from the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitchers

Darrell May Darrell Kevin May (born June 13, 1972) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. Career May's professional baseball career began when the Atlanta Braves drafted him in the 46th round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft. ...

and

Ryan Bukvich Ryan Adrien Bukvich (born May 13, 1978) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. Career Bukvich at ...

. On December 16, 2006, the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

signed him to a minor league deal. On November 27, 2007, Tankersley signed a minor league contract with the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

that included an invitation to

spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...

. He became a free agent at the end of the season, and announced his retirement from baseball in 2008. He decided to come out of retirement in 2012 and attempt a comeback with the Padres. Tankersley was a 2001 All-Star Futures Game selection. In a three-season career, Tankersley compiled a 1–10 record with 68

strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...

s and a 7.61

ERA An era is a span of time. Era or ERA may also refer to: * Era (geology), a subdivision of geologic time * Calendar era Education * Academy of European Law (German: '), an international law school * ERA School, in Melbourne, Australia * E ...

in 86.1

inning In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other tea ...

Personal life

Tankersley's daughter,

Ava Ava or AVA may refer to: Places Asia and Oceania * Ava Kingdom, in upper Burma from 1364 to 1555 ** Inwa, formerly Ava, the capital of Ava Kingdom ** Earl of Ava, a British colonial earldom in Burma * Ava, Iran, Gilan Province, a village * Iva ...

, played college soccer for the

Arkansas Razorbacks The Arkansas Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the College athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletics teams representing the University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Fayetteville. The University of Arkans ...

References

External links

Minor League Splits and Situational Stats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tankersley, Dennis 1979 births Living people People from Troy, Missouri Gulf Coast Red Sox players Fort Wayne Wizards players Augusta GreenJackets players Lake Elsinore Storm players Portland Beavers players Omaha Royals players Memphis Redbirds players Toledo Mud Hens players Columbus Clippers players STLCC Archers baseball players Baseball players from Missouri San Diego Padres players Major League Baseball pitchers