Reinartz signs with Huntington for baseball

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Rochester senior Tanner Reinartz signed with Huntington University Thursday to continue his baseball and academic careers. Sitting, from left – Kyle Reinartz, Tanner’s brother; Matt Reinartz, Tanner’s father; Tanner; Wendy Reinartz, Tanner’s mother. Standing – Huntington assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jamar Weaver.

To know Tanner Reinartz’s work ethic and his dedication to baseball, one needs to know the mantra going through his head: “If you’re not doing it, someone else is.”

Reinartz, a Rochester senior, did something Thursday that few get to do when he signed with Huntington University to continue his baseball and academic careers.

Reinartz said Huntington wants him as both a pitcher and position player. 

Reinartz hit .365 with a team-high six homers and 29 RBIs last year at the plate for the eventual regional champions. His most memorable hit was a walk-off two-run homer to beat Westview in the semistate semifinals at Oak Hill on June 8, and he also spent time at third base, shortstop and first base.

On the mound, he was 5-2 with a 4.01 ERA last spring, and he is 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA in three years on the varsity. He has 164 strikeouts in 115 ⅔ innings pitched.

“We’ve brought the conversation up a couple times,” Reinartz said. “It’s just basically whatever I feel is working at the time and whatever flows. He’s given me the opportunity to two-way, and I want to take that.”

Reinartz raved about the enthusiasm of Huntington coach Thad Frame. He also said his baseball knowledge is “through the roof.”

“He’s a very goofy guy,” a smiling Reinartz said. “Nothing bad about him. I mean, he’s a great guy – funny dude. Very high energy as well – super enthusiastic and a good dude to be around.”

Reinartz also plays tennis in the fall and basketball. He went undefeated during the regular season playing No. 1 tennis for the Zebras and was the RTC Boys Tennis Player of the Year. He also averages 12.4 points and a team-best 5.2 rebounds for a Zebra basketball team that stands 7-2 overall and 2-1 in the Three Rivers Conference heading into Friday’s game against Manchester.

Reinartz made sure to take photos not only with his Rochester baseball teammates and coaches but his tennis and basketball teammates and coaches as well. He also made sure to have his picture taken with administrators like principal Oscar Haughs, assistant principal Lauri Atkinson and athletic director Cal Stone.

“Tennis, I think, has really helped me with hand-eye coordination and just keeping my feet moving and keeping me active during the fall,” Reinartz said. “Basketball, keeping me in shape and just doing stuff to keep my nose clean and my head on straight.”

And he does this all while balancing a nearly-year round baseball schedule. He also plays for the USA Prime travel baseball team. Plus, there are showcases where colleges use state-of-the-art analytics to measure everything from the spin rate on his slider when he’s pitching to his exit velocity when he is hitting.

Plus, he spends three to four days a week in the weight room. He credits older brother Kyle, a 2021 Rochester grad who is a pitcher on the team at Grace College, for getting him involved with a weight room workout that serves him well.

“From early December until November, I mean it’s all year-round, dang near,” Reinartz said. “It’s inside and out. Whenever it’s nice out and we get a chance to go outside, we go. When it’s not or when it’s winter, we’re inside grinding and doing everything it takes.”

Reinartz said he wants to major in a subject that involves stocks or investing or business. He said he is undecided on a career after baseball.