Scott Tanksley

William Scott Tanksley

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• School Mississippi State University
• High School Kemp High School
• Born November 1, 1973 in Dallas, TX USA
• Died February 10, 2014 in Dallas, TX USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Relief pitcher Scott Tanksley played in the Minnesota Twins minor league system from 1995 to 1997.

He was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 42nd round of the 1992 amateur draft out of high school, but did not sign a contract. He was 5-0 with 4 saves and a 3.06 ERA as a freshman at Mississippi State. He set a school record with 13 saves in 1994, a mark that stood for 19 years; he tied Ken Raines, Don Nestor, Ted Silva and Dan Wheeler for 5th in NCAA Division I in saves. In 1995, he was 2-3 with 7 saves and a 2.91 ERA. His 24 saves were a Mississippi State career record at that point. He did ink a contract when he was drafted by the Twins in the 22nd round of the 1995 amateur draft.

He was 0-2 with a save and a 4.11 ERA for the 1995 Elizabethton Twins, striking out 17 in 15 1/3 IP. In 1996, he was 2-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 16 outings for the Fort Wayne Wizards. He split 1997 between the GCL Twins (0-2, 2.08) and Fort Wayne (0-1, 4.05). In his three-year career, Tanksley was 2-6 with save and a 3.34 ERA in 34 appearances. He struck out 51 batters, while allowing 49 hits and 18 walks in 59 1/3 innings of work.

Following his playing career, he became a firefighter, following the career path of his uncle. On February 10, 2014, he died after falling from an overpass while responding to an accident. He was helping a motorist whose car had wrecked on the shoulder of an overpass when another driver lost control of their car on the ice and hit Tanksley, knocking him 56 feet onto the ramp of the interstate. He was 40 years old.

Sources

• Dallas Morning News
• Clarion Ledger
• 1994-1996 Baseball Almanacs