Fresno State Athletics
Down Time with Thomas Harlan
3/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 5, 2012
By Jennifer Jones
jjones@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Senior pitcher Thomas Harlan has been hurling for Fresno State baseball since 2009 and has earned a Western Athletic Conference championship ring every year to show for his efforts. The San Bruno, Calif. native pitched a complete game shutout in the 'Dogs 6-0 win over Butler (Feb. 18) to start the season.
Harlan has struck out 98 batters in 125.2 innings pitched during his career and proven himself as a powerful starting pitcher for Bulldogs.
He lettered in baseball for three years at Archbishop Riordan High School and led the league in strikeouts during his junior year. The two-time first-team All-Western Catholic League selection and two-time team most valuable player was named the San Francisco Chronicle Player of the Year his senior year.
Recruited by Fresno State, San Francisco, Santa Clara and UNLV, Harlan had an important decision to make at the end of his high school career, but the choice was clear.
"I love the atmosphere here and they have a good baseball program," said Harlan of choosing Fresno State.
Harlan chose to join a baseball program that, at the time, had two consecutive seasons of winning both the regular season and conference tournament titles. The Bulldogs finished 2008 with a sweep of conference titles for the third year in a row and completed an ESPY-nominated upset of Georgia to win the program's first National Championship.
The 6-6, 205-pound lefty made an immediate impact on the mound for the Bulldogs in 2009. He appeared in 21 games as a true freshman and finished his inaugural season with a perfect 2-0 record. An only child, Harlan grew up competing with friends a lot and former Bulldog Greg Gonzalez was one of them. Harlan's positive experience at Fresno State prompted the old friend to join the program the following season. Gonzalez went on to become an All-American and WAC Pitcher of the Year before graduating in 2011.
"He came here for me," laughed Harlan who made his own impression in 2010.
He had a career-high 29 appearances that year, earning his first collegiate start in his sophomore year. He struck out 25 batters in 26.1 innings pitched and picked up one save during the season.
Consistently improving his ERA throughout his career, Harlan posted a career-best 3.84 season ERA last year. He finished with a 5-3 record starting 12 of the 19 games he appeared in. He also struck out a season-high 45 batters in 63.1 innings pitched in 2011.
Harlan is expecting to graduate this spring with a degree in kinesiology. He has a 1-2 record after three starts on the mound this year. Harlan has struck out 13 batters in 19.1 innings pitched and has a 2.33 ERA.
He and the Bulldogs face San Francisco in a four-game series this weekend, Mar. 8-11. Fans can purchase season and single-game tickets online or by calling the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-3647.
He and the Bulldogs face San Francisco in a four-game series this weekend, Mar. 8-11. Fans can purchase season and single-game tickets online or by calling the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-3647.
Fun Facts about Thomas Harlan
Favorite Food
Hamburger
Favorite Drink
Mountain Dew
Favorite Candy
Skittles for sure
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Probably New Zealand. [Why?] Adventure.
Who do you hang out with most on the team?
Everybody. Everyone. We're a family.
Favorite T-shirt
Just a plain t-shirt.
Favorite Shoes
Nice Vans.
Dogs or Cats
I can't, I can't. I have a cat, so I'm going to go with cat. [What kind?] just one cat right now. He's black and white.
Do you drink caffeine?
No. A Mountain Dew I guess if that counts. I like my coffee cold and carbonated.
Favorite Hobby
Outdoors. I love being outside. [Favorite outdoor activity?] All of them, hiking, just being in the mountains.
"We Are Your Team!" Check out the action on game day from AM 940 KYNO, the flagship station for Bulldog baseball. Follow us on Facebook (fresnostateathletics) and Twitter (@FSAthletics).
