Conversations with the Herd: LG Twins Pitcher Anders Tolhurst

By: Brian Frank

Anders Tolhurst is taking his talents overseas. The Southern California native, who spent most of this season in the Bisons’ starting rotation, recently announced he’d signed a contract with the LG Twins, a team based in Seoul, South Korea, that plays in in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). Tolhurst spoke about his baseball journey with The Herd Chronicles during the Bisons' recent homestand, before his signing with the Twins was announced.

Tolhurst’s grew up in Santee, California, where he starred in both baseball and football at Santana High School. After graduating, he headed to San Diego City College to play baseball.

“My first year at San Diego City College, I was actually a two-way,” Tolhurst told The Herd Chronicles. “I think I had about 90 innings or so – and then I also played shortstop a decent amount of games.”

After one year at SDCC, he transferred to Grossmont College in El Cajon, California.

“When I transferred to Grossmont, I strictly became a pitcher, and ended up only throwing about 65 innings that year,” Tolhurst said. “But my experiences at both those places were phenomenal. Great coaching over there. I wouldn't change the way I had it, so it was good.”

Tolhurst grew up in Southern California. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

After posting a 3.79 ERA in 66 2/3 innings pitched in his one season at Grossmont, Tolhurst was selected by the Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2019 draft.

“I was actually at home,” he said of the moment he was drafted. “I think I might have been playing some video games. It was a little earlier because I was out on the west coast. I was just hanging out and then I end up getting a call from the scout, Jim Lentine, saying that they had taken me in the draft.”

“I think it was just always a dream of mine,” Tolhurst said of the opportunity to turn professional. “I think with the opportunity presenting itself, I figured it was a great choice. I could have gone to school. I had opportunities to go to some universities, but I figured this would have been my best route.”

However, a shoulder injury prevented his professional debut from taking place in 2019 – and then the COVID-19 pandemic and a torn UCL delayed it even further.

“I feel like it just kind of allowed me to develop into who I wanted to become,” he said of the 2020 minor-league season being cancelled.

“I went down to a camp in October of that year, 2020, and unfortunately I ended up tearing my UCL,” he continued. “The rehab process after that was a grind. It was a little longer than expected to get back on the field. but I had great help down there and then eventually I was able to get back in 2022 and get going again.”

Tolhurst finally made his long anticipated professional debut over three years after being drafted, pitching in three games in the Florida Complex League, followed by four games at Low-A Dunedin.

“I think the biggest thing was just allowing myself to find who I was trying to become again,” he said of his 2022 season. “I knew I wasn't going to be the same player I was before. I think it was just kind of rebuilding myself into who I wanted to become and just taking it with ease. I knew it was going to take some time. Talking with other guys, I knew that first year back off of TJ, and even that second year too, it's not always going to be easy, or be the way you want things to go. I thought it was great just being able to get back on the field and be able to compete again.”

“I would say the physical part isn't as bad as the mental aspect of it,” he continued. “The physical aspect – everyone's like, oh, you're going to come back throwing harder and all this stuff, but it's all the little things you do in the building up with the throwing and all the rehab and stuff that actually I think helps you come back stronger. So, with all that stuff, it was great. I thought my command early on was not where I wanted it to be, but over time it got to a good spot, and the velocity was on the way back up too.”

When Dunedin’s season was over, Tolhurst headed out to Arizona to play for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. In 15 2/3 innings pitched in the AFL, Tolhurst had a 4.70 ERA with 16 strikeouts.

“I got to play with some really, really good guys out there, a lot of talent,” he remembered. “It was just a great opportunity for myself, just to be able to get back out there after being off the field for so long and just being able to see where my stuff can compete. It was a great opportunity. Even though it wasn't that long, it was just nice to be able to go out there and just throw.”

He began the 2023 season at Dunedin, pitching in six games out of the D-Jays bullpen, before being promoted to High-A Vancouver, where he pitched for the eventual Northwest League champions.

“I thought I was going to be able to break with the team that year,” he said. “I had some other things with the arm going on and then finally got back on the field. I got healthy and then had that full half season up there.”

He earned the win in the decisive game of the Northwest League Finals. Tolhurst allowed two runs in four innings out of the Canadians’ bullpen, in a 10-2 Game Four victory over Everett, helping Vancouver win their fifth league title.

“It was a great group of guys and I couldn't have asked for a better experience just being able to come back for that second half of the season,” he said. “That was probably one of the most fun times I've ever had playing baseball. It was just awesome to be back out there.”

Tolhurst had a 1.37 ERA in 26 1/3 IP since July 1. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

Tolhurst dominated at the start of the 2024 season at Vancouver, posting a 1.73 ERA in 21 relief appearances. He was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire in mid-June.

“I knew the talent was going to increase a little bit,” he said of the jump to Double-A. “I knew those guys were going to be a little better. Once I got up there, I would say it was just trying to find myself, find what kind of role I was going to be in. Then I struggled for a little bit and then the last month and a half of the season was phenomenal. I think just being able to build that confidence up and just roll with that and have everything clicking and working.”

This year, Tolhurst moved from the bullpen back into a starting role. He made 18 starts, two in New Hampshire and 16 in Buffalo (as well as two relief appearances) for a total of 81 1/3 innings pitched.

“It's a lot different than it was last year. Coming out of the bullpen, I've thrown more innings than I did all last year (59 2/3)... But, I love it a lot. I'm in a great routine now. Just being able to get everything going and being able to throw every five or six days, I think it's awesome.”

Tolhurst uses four pitches on the mound. Although he relies most heavily on his power pitches, he’s been throwing a pair of offspeed pitches more often since arriving in Triple-A.

“Right now, it's a four-seam, a cutter, and I throw a split-change and a curveball,” he explained. “But I'm pretty fastball/cutter dominant, I would say, in my arsenal. I've been implementing the split-change and curveball a little bit more up here. I felt like when I was in Double-A I could kind of get away with those two pitches and have good outings with those. But up here, these guys are pretty good, and they’ve got good approaches, so I think being able to have three solid pitches, and a fourth too, helps out a lot.”

Tolhurst has been on a roll over the last month. He had a 1.37 ERA in his final five starts for the Bisons, dating back to July 1 – holding opponents to a .181 batting average during that period, while fanning 23 batters and walking only four.

“I think it was just everything overall, with the confidence, the mechanics and just going out there and being able to compete every time,” he said of his recent success. “I think the biggest thing was we made a couple adjustments with the arm slot, just getting back to where I used to be. I think that helped out a lot, and just being more consistent. Obviously not walking as many guys as I did early on when I got up here, I think that's definitely helped out a lot. Just being able to stay on the attack, fill up the zone, and just not give these guys freebies.”

Now, Tolhurst joins the LG Twins, who are currently in a virtual tie with the Hanwha Eagles atop the KBO standings. He’s expected to join the Twins starting rotation to help them on their push to win their fourth league championship, a feat they last accomplished two seasons ago, when they defeated the KT Wiz four games to one in the best-of-seven Korean Series.