Former Green River and Everett Baseball Standout Tanner Swanson hired by New York Yankees
Roslyn native Tanner Swanson making an impact with his catching philosophies at the highest level
Even Tanner Swanson had to admit the moment was at least somewhat uncanny.
When he entered the coveted Yankee Stadium for the first time since being hired as the New York Yankees catching and quality control coach last month, it wasn't a mirage.
The visit was a reminder of how far Swanson has traveled with the time and work he devoted, coming from a little town called Roslyn west of Cle Elum — a place he still calls home.
"To think about the beginning to where I sit today, I still pinch myself a little bit," Swanson said. "My first time walking into Yankee Stadium was a pretty surreal moment, but at the same time, I don't feel out of place. I don't necessarily feel like an outsider or don't feel like I'm intimidated or can't perform the job at a high level.
"For me, it's been about trying to be really good wherever I was at and I never tried to look too far ahead."
Swanson, a 2001 Cle Elum-Roslyn High School graduate, has become well-known for his expertise in catching, a position he had no experience with during his high school or college ball days.
After playing one season each for Green River Community College and Everett Community College, then two years at Central Washington University as an infielder, Swanson began his coaching career not long after with short stints at Sultan High School (2008), Everett CC (2009), CWU (2010), and Green River CC (2011).
But where he ascended, albeit, was with the University of Washington where he spent five seasons.
He started as a graduate manager for the 2011-12 season before moving into a coaching position in the fall of 2012. With a need for a catching coach, Swanson was handed the responsibility.
"It was the need at the time based on the dynamics of the staff," Swanson said. "I was the new, young, inexperienced coach and that's not uncommon for those types of coaches to assume the catching responsibilities for whatever reason."
But he thrived in the role and produced four UW catchers who garnered All-Pac 12 conference selections and one All-America honor. Four catchers at UW under Swanson's tutelage were drafted: Joey Morgan (95th overall in 2017), Austin Rei (81st overall in 2015), Nick Kahle (133rd overall in 2019), and Willie MacIver (276th overall in 2018).
Morgan, who's currently with the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A) in the Detroit Tigers organization, says that's a testament of Swanson's fidelity to his catcher's personal success.
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