Arcola’s Tanner Thomas transfers to South Florida University
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By Mike Monahan
ARCOLA – Tanner Thomas, a 2025 Arcola grad, spent last year at Louisville and played baseball. However, after playing in six games and throwing six innings, he allowed two earned runs with five walks and three strikeouts and three hits for an earned run average of 3.00. He decided to transfer to South Florida University.
Wanting more playing time and more of a role on a team, Thomas the son of Jeff and Sarah Thomas of Arcola, transferred using the transfer portal.
“I wanted to go somewhere that gave me more opportunities to throw and compete at a high level, “ said Thomas, who is playing for the LaCrosse (Wisconsin) Loggers of the Northwoods League this summer, which includes college players from all over the United States. “They expect me to throw a lot for them and that was a big reason why I chose them.”
That being said, Thomas will always remember his first appearance for the Cardinals of Louisville. It was a home non-conference game against Seton Hall at Jim Patterson Stadium. He entered in the sixth inning of the game (March 6); the Cardinals led 15-1. The 6-0, 195-pound right-hander threw just eight pitches, six for strikes, and retired the Pirates in order with two fly balls and a ground out. He was aided by an incredible catch by Kade Elam, who caught a ball that was a blooper in short center field.
“The first time I threw at Louisville it was great, “ said Thomas. “The feeling coming off the mound after waiting for my opportunity was something I will always remember. The guys jumping out to celebrate too was sweet as well.”
Thomas also pitched an inning against Notre Dame March 13 (ND won 14-11), two thirds of an inning against Pittsburgh March 29 (Pitt won 137-7); an inning against Indiana April 28 (Indiana won 10-6); his longest outing was May 12 as he threw an inning and two thirds against Bellarmine (Louisville won 14-7) and his final appearance was two thirds of an inning against Virginia (Virginia won 8-3) on May 16. All games were at home.
Why South Florida, located in Tampa?
“First of all, it is Florida,” said Thomas. “You can’t go wrong there. Secondly, the coaches are amazing, and the facilities are great as well.”
South Florida Bulls compete in the American Athletic Conference and have an enrollment of 50,000 from nearly 150 countries. The team went 32-21 overall and 11-16 in the conference, which was ninth place in the 10-team conference, which includes the University of Texas San Antonio; East Carolina, Rice, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Memphis, Wichita State, Florida Atlantic, and Tulane.
South Florida is coached by Mitch Hannahs, who coached at Indiana State, winning Missouri Valley Conference titles in 2023 and 2024, and the Sycamores reached the super regional in 2023. This year, the Bulls moved Dave Eiland from player development coordinator to the pitching coach. Eiland played parts of 10 seasons in the majors for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals and New York Mets and has coached three Hall of Famers in Mariano Rivera, Mike Mussina and CC Sabathia.
One person who helped him pick South Florida was Brennyn Cutts, a Cumberland grad of 2021, who went on to play three seasons at Indiana State under Hannahs, where he earned Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of the Year and made the NCAA Lexington Regional All-Tournament team for the 44-15 squad. The 2023 Sycamores also reached the NCAA tournament. Cutts transferred to Louisville in 2025, where he earned Academic All-ACC team for the Cardinals, who went 42-24 and made the College World Series.
“It helped a lot to talk with him,” said Thomas. “Brennyn is an amazing dude. His stories and insight on the coaching staff and how they do things ultimately made my decision way easier.”
Thomas plans to major in business administration at this time. He will live in an apartment with three other baseball players.
“It should be fun,” said Thomas.
The Bulls lost just three pitchers from a staff of 18 due to graduation.
“The main thing I have been working on is velocity and it is showing, “ said Thomas. “I have hit 94 miles an hour a couple of times in my final outing in LaCrosse”
At LaCrosse, Thomas has appeared in nine games, starting in five for the Loggers, who are 8-4 in the second half of the season after winning the first half of the season with a 22-12 mark. Making them 30-16 overall. With the win in the first half, they have assured themselves of a playoff appearance. He has pitched 20 ⅔ innings and is 1-1 with 17 earned runs, 18 strikeouts, and 20 walks, as well as an earned run average of 7.40. His last appearance was July 13 when he pitched an inning in a 6-5 win over the Eau Claire Express.
“LaCrosse is awesome, and the area is great,” said Thomas. “It has been fun, challenging, but fun. It is always good to compete against guys who are very talented.”
As for his favorite people he played with or against, Thomas said, “I have got to say two of my teammates in Zion Rose and Tague Davis. Those two dudes are unreal at baseball, but also amazing guys.”
Davis just completed his sophomore season and is a left-handed pitcher and first baseman, while Rose is a junior outfielder. Davis led the team in batting at .355, while Rose hit .417, but did not play in enough games to qualify.
Thomas was happy to see his favorite Major League Baseball player, Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals won the Home Run Derby at the all-star game.
“I was pumped,” said Thomas, who reports to South Florida on August 24. “He has been my favorite player since he entered the league (2023). I was so happy.”