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Tanner Rainey

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Tanner Rainey
Rainey with the Nationals in 2019
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitcher
Born: (1992-12-25) December 25, 1992 (age 31)
Folsom, Louisiana, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 10, 2018, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record5–10
Earned run average5.39
Strikeouts226
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Tanner Scott Rainey (born December 25, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. He was drafted by the Reds in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Reds in 2018.

Career

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Rainey attended St. Paul's School in Covington, Louisiana. He played college baseball at Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of West Alabama as a pitcher and first baseman.[1] He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds as a pitcher in the second round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[2]

Cincinnati Reds

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Rainey signed with the Reds, made his professional debut with the Billings Mustangs,[3] and spent the whole season there, pitching to a 2–2 record and 4.27 ERA in 15 starts. He pitched 2016 with the Dayton Dragons and was 5–10 with a 5.57 ERA in 29 games (20 starts), and 2017 with the Daytona Tortugas and Pensacola Blue Wahoos, compiling a combined 3–3 record and 3.19 ERA in 53 relief appearances along with 104 strikeouts in 62 innings (15.1 per nine innings).[4] The Reds invited him to spring training in 2018.[5]

On April 10, 2018, Rainey's contract was purchased by the Reds. He made his major league debut that same day against the Philadelphia Phillies, pitching one inning of relief and giving up a grand slam to Scott Kingery.[6] In the 2018 season with the Reds, he was 0–0 with a 24.23 ERA, as in seven innings over eight games he gave up 13 hits, 12 walks, and 19 earned runs.[7]

Washington Nationals

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Rainey in 2020

On December 12, 2018, the Reds traded Rainey to the Washington Nationals for Tanner Roark.[8] Rainey was called up to the Nationals from the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies on May 18, 2019,[9] and swiftly became one of manager Dave Martinez's go-to relievers.[10] He earned his first career win in relief on June 1, beating Roark and the Reds at Great American Ball Park.[11] In 2019 he was 2–3 with a 3.91 ERA in 52 relief appearances, as he struck out 74 batters in 48+1⁄3 innings (13.8 per nine innings), but walked 38 batters (7.1 walks per 9 innings pitched).[12] The Nationals finished the 2019 year with a 93–69 record, clinched a wild card spot, and won the World Series over the Houston Astros.[13] Rainey pitched 6.2 innings with 5 walks and 6 strikeouts in the 2019 playoffs including throwing 2 strikeouts and finishing Game 3 of the 2019 NLCS, the first ever NLCS game at Nationals Park and in Washington, DC history. Rainey pitched 20.1 innings of 2.66 ERA ball in 2020, going along with 32 strikeouts and a 1–1 record, however after experiencing forearm tightness in mid-September 2020, Rainey sat out the remainder of the season.[14]

In 2021, Rainey made 38 appearances for the Nationals, and struggled immensely to the tune of a 1–3 record and 7.39 ERA with 25 walks (averaging 7.1 walks per 9 innings) and 42 strikeouts in 31+2⁄3 innings pitched.[7]

He improved his numbers in 2022, pitching in 29 games and recording a 3.30 ERA with 12 saves and 36 strikeouts in 30.0 innings of work. On July 13, 2022, Rainey was abruptly placed on the 60-day injured list with a sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.[15] On August 3, he underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season.[16]

On September 29, 2023, Rainey was activated from the injured list to make his season debut and return from surgery.[17]

Rainey made 50 appearances for Washington in 2024, compiling a 4.76 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 51 innings pitched. On November 22, 2024, the Nationals non–tendered Rainey, making him a free agent.[18]

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On December 7, 2024, Rainey signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[19]

Personal life

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Rainey is married to his wife Kelsey. The couple has two children: Ryker and Rory.[20] Their son, Ryker Scott was born on December 7, 2021.[21] Their daughter, Rory Rae, was born on January 26, 2023.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Power-hitting Tanner Rainey of West Alabama drafted as a pitcher by Cincinnati Reds". June 9, 2015.
  2. ^ "Reds close out Draft Day 1 with Tanner Rainey at No. 71". MLB.com.
  3. ^ RACHAC, GREG. "Mustangs' Rainey trading long balls for fastballs".
  4. ^ "Tanner Rainey Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  5. ^ Fay, John. "Cincinnati Reds prospect Tanner Rainey making a big impression with his big fastball and slider". The Enquirer.
  6. ^ Pianovich, Stephen (April 11, 2018). "Bailey flirts with no-no, bullpen falters in loss". MLB.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Tanner Rainey Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Nationals trade RHP Roark to Reds for Rainey". December 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "Nationals recall Tanner Rainey". MASN Sports. May 18, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  10. ^ Finney, Blake (June 3, 2019). "Improved command leading Tanner Rainey to big role in the Washington Nationals' bullpen". Federal Baseball. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  11. ^ Kerr, Byron (June 1, 2019). "Tanner beats Tanner as Nats right the series with 5-2 win over Reds". MASN Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  12. ^ "Tanner Rainey Stats".
  13. ^ "Washington Nationals win 2019 World Series". MLB. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  14. ^ "Tanner Rainey: Future closer; concerns over forearm tightness; Should he return in 2020?". September 15, 2020.
  15. ^ "Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Likely done for season". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Undergoes Tommy John surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Activated from IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "All-Star reliever Finnegan a free agent after being non-tendered by Nats". mlb.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  19. ^ "Pirates Sign Tanner Rainey, Hunter Stratton To Minor League Contracts". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  20. ^ "Tanner Rainey Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  21. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  22. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
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