Rangers Add Another Arm With 1st Round Compensatory Pick

Player Name: Tanner Scheppers
Position: Starting Pitcher
Team: St. Paul Saints (independent team)
Birthdate: 1/17/87
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Report Date(s): 4/16/09
Game(s): Golden West Community College

-Fastball: Scheppers threw his fastball anywhere from 93 mph up to 98 mph and was sitting at 95 mph most of the time.
-Fastball movement: He's got cut and sink on his heater.
-Curve: Has the potential for a good power curve. He was a little tentative in letting it go at times in this first live outing but has shown it as an above-averge pitch at times.
-Changeup: Threw a few hard changeups at around 88 mph, but he doesn't need it at this point.
-Control: Considering the long layoff from pitching in a live situation, his command was pretty good. An improved and smoother delivery clearly helped.
-Poise: Pitching with a junior college defense behind him, Scheppers was in complete control on the mound.
-Physical Description: Scheppers, initially a shortstop, is a tall and athletic right-hander. He has put on good weight and was visibly stronger compared to his junior season at Fresno State.
-Medical Update: Healthy, it seems. A shoulder injury shut him down last year and hurt his Draft status. He didn't sign with the Pirates after being taken in the second round.
-Strengths: An outstanding fastball with plenty of arm strength, an improved delivery, added strength. He throws hard and without effort.
-Weaknesses: It's all about the medical reports. He'll need to prove to everyone as he pitches indy ball that he's 100 percent healthy.
-Summary: Pitching in intrasquad action at Golden West C.C., Scheppers was creating a ton of buzz on the West Coast. The former Fresno State standout, whose Draft status took a hit because of a shoulder injury last year, was throwing free, easy and hard in early looks. With a plus fastball and the potential for a plus curve, if Scheppers continues to show he's healthy while pitching for the St. Paul Saints, he's going to shoot up Draft boards everywhere.