Tarver finding power stroke in all-star season
By James Tubb on July 8, 2023.
Medicine Hat Mavericks third baseman Nathan Tarver admires his home run in the Mavs 8-5 loss against the Regina Red Sox on July 2 at Athletic Park.Nathan Tarver loves the day-to-day grind baseball provides.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks third baseman enjoys every opportunity he can to field or hit a baseball and takes a lot of pride in getting better every day.
“It’s great to see the fruits of your labour actually put out there and in front of a great crowd, it’s good to be able to showcase that,” Tarver said.
The Phoenix, Ari. product has been a staple in the Mavs’ lineup this season and has been a mainstay at third base, having played 260 of 295 possible innings at the hot corner entering play Friday. His love for that position and style of play comes from some of his favourite players.
“Nolan Arenado, Adrian Beltran, Michael Young, they’ve all been in that spot and I’ve modelled my game after them,” Tarver said. “They’re people I’ve grown up watching and have really enjoyed playing this position.
“For them and myself, it’s about coming to the yard trying to showcase something special every day. Whether it’s with the bat or the glove, just try and do something the crowd hasn’t seen before.”
Tarver has done just that this season, earning himself an all-star nomination while being one of his team’s offensive leaders. He’s batting .311 on the season with three home runs and 23 RBIs in 33 games He leads the team in RBIs and triples (2).
Tarver’s spent the majority of the season in the top third of the Mavs’ batting order, a role he’s most comfortable in.
“Growing up and throughout high school and through college so far I’ve always been in the three, four or five spots so it’s nothing too crazy,” Tarver said. “It’s real familiar for me, I know I’m going to see a lot a lot of breakers throughout the game, so I have to get my pitch and hammer it.”
Having the responsibility of being in the top of the order and in a prototypical run producing spot in the lineup can place pressure on players as they’re relied upon for offence. While Tarver is putting up the numbers there are days and games, like there is for all players, when the ball doesn’t fly his way. He looks at those difficult days as just another step to getting better and goes through his routines to stay positive throughout the ups and downs of a season.
“Every day is a new day, you can’t dwell on a bad performance, just the same with the good performances, you have to stay real even and keep doing the simple things,” Tarver said. “For me, I go to the gym to get my mind right or I’m talking to my parents before the game, that always helps me get centred.”
Head coach Kevin Mitchell says having a player like Tarver who enjoys playing on both sides of the baseball is a treat to watch and makes the lineup that much better. He says it’s no surprise to see the young ball player succeed with how much work he puts in.
“He’s always locked in and good things happen to people who work like that,” Mitchell said of Tarver.
Tarver and the Mavs were at Swift Current on Friday taking on the 57’s. That game was not complete by press time, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story. The Mavs (16-18) are in action this weekend with a three-game set at Athletic Park. They host the Sylvan Lake Gulls on Saturday and Sunday before the Brooks Bombers come to town on Monday.
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