David Ledbetter Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Jeffrey David Ledbetter
Born 02/13/1992 in Anderson, IN
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Cedarville
Drafted in the 3rd round (99th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2013 (signed for $350,000).

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Cedarville, a National Christian College Athletic Association program, never has had a player selected in the 48-year history of the draft, though that will change in June thanks to the Ledbetter twins, David and Ryan. David is the better prospect of the pair, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder with a 90-94 mph sinker. He has a deep repertoire that also includes a hard curveball, a sinking changeup and a slider. He has sound mechanics and the athleticism to see double duty as a DH/right fielder. He's also one of the few prospects in the draft who's married, having wed his high school sweetheart in December. Ryan pitches and plays second base for Cedarville. He has a similar fastball and curve, but he has a violent delivery and his stuff drops off after a couple of innings. A redshirt sophomore, he had Tommy John surgery in his first year with the Yellow Jackets. David should go around the fifth round of the draft, with Ryan a possible late-round choice if he wants to sign.

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Ledbetter became the first player ever drafted out of Division II Cedarville (Ohio) when the Rangers used their third-round pick (No. 99 overall) on him in 2013 and signed him for $350,000. The Rangers also drafted Ledbetter's identical twin brother Ryan, who also is a righthander, in the 19th round from the same program. The transition to pro ball didn't faze Ledbetter, who pounded the strike zone in his debut with short-season Spokane. He has sound, repeatable mechanics, which helps him throw strikes consistently with a 90-94 mph fastball. His heater has heavy sink that leads to a high groundball rate. He throws a hard, late-breaking curveball that's an average pitch, a sinking changeup that can be effective at times along with an occasional slider. Ledbetter is a good athlete who also played right field and DH in college. Despite his small college background, he has the command and savvy to move fairly quickly through the system, with his next step coming at one of the Rangers' Class A affiliates in 2014.

Cedarville, a National Christian College Athletic Association program, never has had a player selected in the 48-year history of the draft, though that will change in June thanks to the Ledbetter twins, David and Ryan. David is the better prospect of the pair, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder with a 90-94 mph sinker. He has a deep repertoire that also includes a hard curveball, a sinking changeup and a slider. He has sound mechanics and the athleticism to see double duty as a DH/right fielder. He's also one of the few prospects in the draft who's married, having wed his high school sweetheart in December. Ryan pitches and plays second base for Cedarville. He has a similar fastball and curve, but he has a violent delivery and his stuff drops off after a couple of innings. A redshirt sophomore, he had Tommy John surgery in his first year with the Yellow Jackets. David should go around the fifth round of the draft, with Ryan a possible late-round choice if he wants to sign.

Coming out of a school that played in the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series, Ledbetter wasn?t used to the level of competition he saw this summer. That didn?t matter, as he didn?t give up a run in four of his first six starts. Ledbetter throws consistent strikes with three pitches: a 91-94 mph fastball, a late-breaking curveball and an effective changeup. He has the confidence to throw them in any count. ?David came from a small school, not knowing what to expect,? Spokane?s Hulett said. ?He showed composure and looked like he had experience.? Ledbetter and his twin brother Ryan, a Rangers 19th-round pick in June, became the first two players ever drafted in the history of the Cedarville (Ohio) program.