Tanner Scheppers Stats & Scouting Report

IP	183
ERA	4.23
WHIP	1.399
BB/9	3.541
SO/9	7.279

Full name Tanner Ross Scheppers
Born 01/17/1987 in Mission Viejo, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Fresno State
Debut 06/07/2012
Drafted in the C-A round (44th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2009 (signed for $1,250,000).

View Draft Report

Before Scheppers hurt his shoulder last April, he was on course to go in the first 10 picks of the 2008 draft. But the injury, initially reported as a stress fracture and later described as significant wear and tear, dropped him to 48th overall to the Pirates and caused him to miss Fresno State's improbable run to a College World Series championship. Scheppers opted for rehab over surgery and worked out for Pittsburgh, but his stuff hadn't bounced back enough for the club to meet his seven-figure asking price. He signed with the independent Saints last September and began to excite scouts again in preseason workouts at Golden West (Calif.) JC, displaying the mid-90s fastball and hard curveball he had before he got hurt. In his first two exhibition outings and three regular-season outings with St. Paul, Scheppers showed the same fastball and curve, though he battled his control. An athletic 6-foot-4, 200-pounder who initially signed with Fresno State as an infielder, Scheppers has good mechanics but sometimes rushes his delivery. "He's got the best arm action, delivery and stuff in this draft behind Strasburg, and it's a cleaner arm than Strasburg," one scouting director said. Scheppers is learning to harness his curveball and to throw an effective changeup. Though Dr. Lewis Yocum has given him a clean bill of health, teams considering Scheppers near the top of the draft still have some trepidation. He's a top-10 candidate once again, though he could slide if clubs worry about his shoulder and his asking price.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Scheppers missed Fresno State's 2008 College World Series championship run and dropped to the second round of that year's draft because of shoulder issues. He declined to sign with the Pirates and resurfaced in independent ball in 2009, then signed with the Rangers for $1.25 million as a sandwich-rounder. After he pitched exclusively in relief to limit his innings in 2010, Texas hoped to develop him as a starter last year. Instead, a herniated disk in his back pushed him back into the bullpen. Scheppers has lost some of his shine, but he still has value as a late-inning reliever. He has a 95-98 mph fastball that can touch triple digits, though it's often described as soft because it's straight and hitters see it well. His downer curveball with two-plane break gives him a second plus pitch. He also has a fringy slider and a below-average changeup. Scheppers has a herkyjerky delivery that he rushes through, affecting the consistency of his release point. He needs to make mechanical adjustments to help his control and his deception. With his electric fastball/curve combination, Scheppers could be a future closer or set-up man. He figures to open 2012 with his third stint in Triple-A.
Shoulder problem caused Scheppers to miss Fresno State's 2008 College World Series championship run and knocked him from a projected top-10 choice to the second round of the draft. He resurfaced in independent ball in 2009, then signed for $1.25 million as a sandwich pick. He pitched mostly in relief last year because the Rangers wanted to limit his innings and needed bullpen reinforcements. Scheppers' four-seam fastball rarely drops below 95 mph and tops out at 98 when he pitches as a starter, and bumps triple digits when he comes out of the bullpen. Some scouts say his fastball is straight, but others say it has good riding life up in the zone. He dabbled late in the year with a low-90s sinker. Scheppers throws both an 11-to-5 curveball and a hard slider that are plus pitches at times. He has feel for a changeup but throws it too hard at 87-88 mph. He rushes his delivery when he works from the stretch, causing him to lose his release point and pitch up in the zone. Texas is committed to developing Scheppers as a starter. He has the stuff to pitch at the front of a rotation, if he can refine his command, or in the late innings as a reliever. He figures to open 2011 in Triple-A and get a taste of the big leagues at some point.
Scheppers projected as a top 10 pick in the 2008 draft before a shoulder injury caused him to miss Fresno State's improbable College World Series title run and dropped him to the Pirates at No. 48. Initially reported as a stress fracture, the injury was later described as significant wear and tear, so he opted for rehab over surgery. He turned down Pittsburgh and pitched for the independent St. Paul Saints in 2009, but he still lasted 44 picks because of concerns about his health. He signed for $1.25 million and posted a 5.73 ERA in the Arizona Fall League. Scheppers has an electric fastball that ranges from 93-99 mph and has excellent downhill angle. He complements it with a plus 82-84 mph curveball that could become plus-plus as he refines his command. He has an aggressive, competitive demeanor and a good work ethic. Scheppers can be wild with all his stuff and must do a better job getting ahead in counts. He has feel for a changeup but must develop the pitch to stick as a starter. He has a hitch in the back of his delivery, but his arm works well and the Rangers don't plan to mess much with his mechanics. They want him to add 10-15 pounds and continue strengthening his shoulder. Scheppers earns comparisons to Brandon Morrow, and as with Morrow, it could take some time to figure out if he fits best as a starter or closer. Scheppers is ticketed for a spot in the crowded Frisco rotation in 2010.

Minor League Top Prospects

Scheppers was strong early while coming out of the bullpen, but he struggled in a stint as a starter and posted an 8.10 ERA in the second half. Scheppers' fastball is certainly his main weapon, a power offering that sits in the upper 90s and touches 99 mph with boring action. He compliments the heater with a hard, downer curveball that gives him a second swing-and-miss pitch. He also has a changeup, but he uses it only sparingly and it doesn't stand out. He needs to control the strike zone better, and one manager said he got in trouble later in the year because he stopped trusting his fastball and threw too many curveballs. He has the potential to be a No. 2 starter if his changeup develops, or he could be a dominant closer.