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Rangers Sign Tanner Scheppers

Posted on September 17th, 2009 2:24pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Uncategorized

Below is the Rangers’ press release on the signing of supplemental pick Tanner Scheppers. Working on confirming a bonus figure:

The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has signed right-handed pitcher Tanner Scheppers, the club’s supplemental first round selection (44th overall) in the 2009 June draft. Scheppers passed a physical today at the Medical Center of Arlington and will join the team’s instructional league program in Surprise, Arizona tomorrow.

Scheppers, 22, was the club’s second overall selection in this year’s draft. Due to the fact that Scheppers did not have any remaining college eligibility, he was exempt from the Aug. 17 signing deadline that applied to most of this year’s draftees. He was rated as the 9th-best overall prospect in this year’s draft by Baseball America, the 7th-best pitching prospect.

He was also highly-rated prior to last year’s draft, but, after an injury, he was selected 48th overall by Pittsburgh in 2008. Scheppers did not sign with the Pirates, but pitched for the St. Paul Saints in the independent American Association. He made 4 starts with the Saints prior to this year’s draft, going 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA (7 ER/19.0 IP), allowing one home run with 11 walks against 20 strikeouts. Opponents batted .243 (17-70). He also worked out at Golden West (Calif.) Junior College in Huntington Beach ahead of the ’09 draft.

Scheppers pitched at Fresno State from 2006-08. He was injured prior to Fresno State’s run to the College World Series title in 2008, but went 8-2 with one save, a 2.93 ERA (23 ER/70.2 IP), and 109 strikeouts over 12 games/11 starts in his junior year that season. This year marked the third time Scheppers has been drafted, as he was also selected by Baltimore in the 29th round out of Dana Hills (Calif.) High School in 2005. A shortstop and pitcher at Dana Hills, he was not converted to a full-time pitcher until after his arrival at Fresno State, and did not even pitch regularly until his senior season of high school.

While at Fresno State, Scheppers played with the Rangers’ second round draft selection in 2009, third baseman Tommy Mendonca. Mendonca will also participate in the club’s instructional league program.

With the addition of Scheppers, the Rangers signed 26 of the club’s 51 selections in the 2009 June draft, including 8 of the top 9, 13 of the top 16, and 20 of the top 27 picks.

11 Comments to “Rangers Sign Tanner Scheppers”

Josey Wales @ September 17th, 2009 at 2:32 pm

They’ll need him with no free agents or Millwood next year.
John Melton @ September 17th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Thank you Mr. Selig.
Evan's Toupe @ September 17th, 2009 at 3:15 pm

can we david clyde him for millwood’s spot on Monday?
B. Money @ September 17th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

Wooohoooooooooo!!!!!!
Ted Kennedy Feverishly Swimming in Poucha Pond @ September 17th, 2009 at 5:11 pm

Lets throw a parade!!!
obagain @ September 17th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

It is nice to see good news.
He could be on the hunter plan and be in the majors late next year if things work right.
A-Dub @ September 17th, 2009 at 7:13 pm

Bud-roid must have taken the day off for the Rangers to sneak this one by. Great job JD.
It’s been a busy day here at the Corner so I haven’t had time « wire2 @ September 17th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

[...] It’s been a busy day here at the Corner so I haven’t had time to digest all the theories on the Rangers’ demise, but I will and we’ll try to get this all figured out by Friday morning. In the meantime,I bring you a few tidbits about RHP Tanner Scheppers, the 44th overall pick in the draft, who signed today for a $1.25 million bonus. [...]
Hambino @ September 17th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

So we sign him but can’t acquire any help at the deadline…WTF
Kenny In China @ September 17th, 2009 at 8:39 pm

Josey, just shut up and go back to the hole you crawled out of when we started losing!
JustSaying @ September 17th, 2009 at 11:42 pm

That is really wonderful news and just adds more hope to the future but probably more importantly indicates that the club’s financial woes hasn’t shut down all possible acquisitions………thanks mlb finance committee……..

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