FMU: 4-year returning letterman and 2-year returning starter....Taking advantage of extra year granted by the NCAA because of the covid pandemic....Earned BBA degree in management in May 2021....Conference Carolinas Winter/Spring Academic All-Conference Team 2023....Career Totals entering 2023: 132 games, 116 starts, .357 avg, 103 runs, 34 doubles, 2 homers, 81 RBIs, .440 on-base percentage, 15-of-19 SBs....ABCA/Rawlings Southeast All-Region Team (second team) 2022....Conference Carolinas second-team All-Conference Team (2B) 2022....Conference Carolinas Player of the Week for April 4-10, 2022....Started 47 games in 2022 (37 at 2B and 10 in LF)....Ranked 58th nationally in hitting (.398) and 46th in hits per game (1.53)....Conference Carolinas rankings: 5th in batting, T-5th in doubles (17), T-11th in triples (2) and HBPs (12), T-13th in hits (72), 15th in on-base percentage (.459), T-15th in double plays turned (15), T-19th in fielding assists (82), 21st in OPS (.989), T-23rd in runs scored (47)....Recorded 20-game hitting streak....25 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI games....Batted .448 against southpaws...Hit 5-for-12 with the bases loaded....Started all 35 games in 2021 (all at 2B)....PBC rankings: 4th in on-base percentage (.474), 7th in batting average (.363), and 7th in double plays turned 22)....Reached base at .458 clip when leading off and batted .464 with runners on base....16 multi-hit games and 7 multi-RBI games....Had 10-game hitting streak....Started 9 times in 2020 (3 games at 2B, 4 at LF, 2 at RF)....Played in 18 of 21 contests....Third on the team in batting (.326)....Second among regulars with .412 on-base percentage....Hit .368 against righties and .545 with runners in scoring position....4 multi-hit games and 2 multi-RBI games....Ended the shortened 2020 season on a 7-game hitting streak....Appeared in 32 contests in 2019 making 25 starts (14 at 3B, 9 at 2B, 2 at DH)....Drove in 13 runs and scored 21 times....On-base percentage of .367....7 multi-hit games and 4 multi-RBI games....Red-shirted in 2018....Very good defensive player.....Coming from a quality high school program, his future is bright and filled with lots of potential.....Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll 2018....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2017 (fall), 2019 (fall), 2020 (spring, fall), 2021 (fall), 2022 (spring, fall)....Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll 2022 (spring, fall).
PERSONAL:
- Born Tanner Hayes Wakefield in Cumming, Ga.
- Graduate of King's Ridge Christian School, where he played for coaches Dallas McPherson, Joe Torres, and Billy Henley
- Earned honorable mention 6A All-Region recognition and helped lead the Tigers to a 21-12 mark and an appearance in the third round of the GHSA state playoffs
- Ended his prep career with a .283 batting average and finished third on the school’s career fielding assists list
- 3-year starter, and member of back-to-back state championship teams (2016, 2015)
- Helped the Tigers to the 2015 state title while batting .300
- Picked up both honorable mention Southeast Region accolades in 2017 from Perfect Game.
- Nickname is T
PERSONAL FAVORITES:
- As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up: Professional snow-skier
- How you got your nickname: Founder of Sweet Tea
- Favorite Superhero: Deadpool
- Favorite Athlete: Bradan Pierce
- Favorite Sports Team: Georgia Bulldogs
- Favorite Movie or TV Show: The Other Guys
- Favorite Food: Sushi
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Florida Keys
- Favorite Musical Artist: Whiskey Myers
- Favorite Thing About FMU: Cormell Field
- Favorite Off-Field/court Activity: Kiteboarding
- Goals for Upcoming Season: Make a Regional
- Why you first chose your sport: Because of the life lessons it has been able to teach me
- Biggest mental challenge in your sport: Learning how to fail
- Interesting Notes: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one;” Won back-to-back State Championships (2015 & 2016) in high school
- Brush With Greatness: #di9
