By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
The walk-up song for Burlington Bees outfielder Tanner Holland is “Real Gone” by Sheryl Crow.
He’s got the Lightning McQueen Crocs.
If you know, you know — Holland is a fan of the Pixar animated movie “Cars.”
“That’s my thing,” Holland said, smiling.
Baseball is fun, Holland said, and so, why not have some fun paying homage to a favorite movie from his childhood?
“I just love the story of it,” Holland said. “Having a best friend, going through rough times in life, and being able to turn it all around. I’ve watched it since I was a little kid, I’ve got all of the ‘Cars’ toys. I mean, it’s a great story, being able to have a buddy with you, and have a mentor to teach you all of the right ways.”
That’s why his walk-up song is from the soundtrack of the movie. The batter’s box is, well, Radiator Springs for Holland.
“I might as well have as much as I can getting into the box,” Holland said. “It’s great to have a smile when you’re getting ready (to hit). And I know the fans probably love it too. Just trying to make people enjoy baseball.”
On the bases and in the outfield, Holland is speed (again, if you know, you know). It’s why Bees manager Owen Oreskovich usually has Holland at the top of the batting order, usually has him in center field.
Holland is batting .310 with the Bees. He leads the Bees with eight stolen bases and only been caught stealing once, and has a .400 on-base percentage.
“I like that he is aggressive to his pitch early in the count, and that he can run,” Oreskovich said. “Even if he mishits a ground ball, he can still get on and then we can put pressure on by stealing second.”
That pressure was evident in Thursday’s first game of a doubleheader against Springfield. Holland drove in two runs with a single in the fourth inning, then stole second and third base before scoring on Connor Laeng’s single.
“My main goal is trying to get on base,” Holland said. “Anything I can do to get on base, I’m going to do. I know my skill set is my speed. Stealing bases, I love that more than anything. I love getting on base, getting to second base, and hoping somebody gets me in.”
Holland came to the Bees after redshirting this season at Central Arizona College. Holland is teammates with Bees shortstop Kooper Schulte, and is living with Schulte and his family in New London this summer.
“His dad told me about playing here,” Holland said. “Being redshirted this year, I missed a lot of games. So being able to come out here, play in a league with a bunch of games and get a bunch of at-bats, and then talking with (Oreskovich), I knew this was the place for me.”
Holland took a redshirt season after being injured and missing the fall schedule at Central Arizona.
“I learned a lot sitting out,” he said. “Watching those guys out there, they taught me more than I ever knew about baseball. The coaches were great, they helped me through it. Even doing things like charting actually helped me understand a lot of stuff as well. It was a great refresher.”
Watching and learning is something Holland does on the basepaths, which has made him a successful base stealer.
“It’s seeing the pitcher,” Holland said. “A lot of pitchers have little tips, and timing is everything. Big leg kicks, side-steps … it’s all the little things.”
That kind of awareness helps him in the outfield, especially in a ballpark like Community Field with a lot of room in center field.
“He always gets a great jump on balls, and takes great angles,” Oreskovich said. “He sees the ball pretty well out there. We’ve had Lincoln Riley and A.J. Henkle out there the last couple of years, and they were among the best I’ve seen go get balls. Tanner is right in there with those guys.”
“I like being able to roam,” Holland said. “I think I’ve had a couple of catches in right-center where I’ve been able to range out, go lay out for balls. It’s more fun to be able to run around out there.”
It’s all about speed.
Photo: Burlington Bees center fielder Tanner Holland leaps to make a catch in a game earlier this season. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
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