GAMEDAY INFORMATION
University of South Florida Bulls (12-18, 2-1 AAC) vs. Tulane Green Wave (8-21, 2-1 AAC)
SCHEDULE: Thursday, April 6 – 6:30 p.m. | Friday, April 7 – 6:30 p.m. | Saturday, April 8 – 1 p.m.
BALLPARK: Red McEwen Field at USF Baseball Stadium | Tampa, Fla.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Tulane leads, 42-25
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn app)
LIVE STATS: Here
TICKETS: Purchase
TWITTER UPDATES: @USFBaseball
GAME NOTES: USF | Tulane
2023 MEDIA GUIDE: View
By Joey Johnston
Pitchers Tanner and Hunter Mink are identical twins who are unified by an identical goal with the USF baseball program.
They want to make a difference.
"Bottom line, we want to contribute and we want to win,'' Tanner said.
"Like Tanner said,'' Hunter said, nodding. "He covered that pretty well. Contribute and win. Yep. Like it a lot.''
The Mink brothers will be on display this weekend when the USF Bulls (12-18, 2-1 American Athletic Conference) play host to the Tulane Green Wave (8-21, 2-1).
"Tanner and Hunter are two of our leaders,'' USF coach Billy Mohl said. "It's interesting because I think back to me and my brother … we fought all the time. These two get along. They live together. They like each other. It's like the Stepbrothers movie. Of course, they joke around, but they know what they want to accomplish and I think the enjoy the heck out of being able to do it together.''
Tanner is the elder Mink — by six minutes. Tanner is "on the softer side,'' while Hunter is "more hard-headed,'' Mohl said with a laugh. Tanner tends to be more clean-shaven, while Hunter is more apt to grow facial hair.
"I think it's cool being a twin — you know you're always going to have someone who will have your back — but we do get some bizarre questions,'' Tanner said.
Such as?
"We get asked, 'Do you guys have the same birthday?' '' Hunter said. "Really? That's a real question?''
They do more than finish each other's sentences. Sometimes, they also complete each other's thoughts.
"Like I'll be sitting in the dugout, thinking of something so random, like, 'Man, that light pole over there looks really cool,' '' Hunter said.
"And at that moment, I'll say, 'Hey Hunter, look at that light pole. Doesn't it look cool?' '' Tanner said. "And then we'll just look at each other and laugh. I can't explain why or how these things happen. It's kind of a twins thing.''
One thing is certain, though. When the Mink brothers are on their game — Hunter usually starting and Tanner working on the back end, sometimes as the closer — the Bulls have a formidable mound duo that was locally produced at Palm Harbor University High School.
Hunter has made seven starts with a 5-2 record and a 4.58 ERA, along with 34 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. He has recorded three straight quality starts and is 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA over that stretch. Tanner (4.91 ERA) has 17 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings this season. He owns a 1.50 ERA with 15 strikeouts over his last seven relief appearances (12 innings).
They have been inseparable — except when they weren't. Hunter actually began at the University of Florida, while Tanner went directly to USF. Maybe it was a calculated exercise in the twins learning to go their own way. It made for an interesting reunion in 2021 when the Bulls downed the Gators in the Gainesville Regional's opening round.
"But my favorite experience that year was when we played USF in a fall exhibition game and Tanner hit a home run,'' Hunter said. "I wanted to jump up and make noise, but I had to hold it in. Now I can cheer for him whenever I want to.''
Hunter shifted to USF last season and tied for the team lead with 22 appearances (one start), going 3-2 with nine saves, while striking out 43 batters in 41 innings. Now he has shifted to an exclusive starting role. Last season, Tanner appeared in 21 games (two starts) with 12 scoreless appearances and 26 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings.
"They're both like a utility knife — they do a little bit of everything,'' Mohl said. "And they're willing to do whatever we ask. So they are very valuable, very versatile parts of our pitching staff.''
Scouting reports:
"Tanner has a hard fastball with some life to it and a really good curveball he has developed,'' Hunter said. "Closer mentality. He tries to keep it quiet, but I can always see the intensity on his face.''
"Hunter you can always trust to throw the slider and get the guy out, no matter what the count is,'' Tanner said. "Great fastball. The changeup has come a long way. He's kind of sneaky.''
Both players want to continue baseball beyond USF. Regardless of that, though, they expect to always have a tight bond.
"Nobody understands me better than Tanner,'' Hunter said.
"Nobody understands me better than Hunter,'' Tanner said.
Twin sentiments. Identical twins with an identical goal.
"It's nice to be together,'' Tanner said.
"We wouldn't have it any other way,'' Hunter said.
For tickets, please visit usfbullstix.com or call 1-800-Go-Bulls.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 58th season in 2023 under head coach Billy Mohl (sixth season). The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four since 2015, and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. USF was ranked in the Top 25 by five different publications in the final 2021 polls, checking in as high as No. 16. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt, 1 Metro and 1 American) and six regular season championships (3 Sun Belt, 2 Metro and 1 C-USA). USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018, and 18 have earned Freshman All-America accolades, most recently Drew Brutcher and Carmine Lane in 2021. Four Bulls were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Former 2018 first-round selection, Shane McClanahan, became the program's first-ever MLB All-Star in 2022 and was the starting pitcher for the American League.
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