Tanner Scheppers Returns and Dominates in Relief

Tanner Scheppers, the Texas Rangers’ number three prospect, played out of the bullpen for Frisco on Sunday evening. This was Scheppers’ first game action since two innings in Round Rock on April 16th. The only other time he has pitched this season.

In his first inning with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders out of the bullpen, Scheppers struck out the first batter swinging. The second batter grounded out to short, and the third batter struck out on a foul-tip. Schep threw 14 pitches in the seventh inning. The Frisco broadcast really emphasized how great he looked.

In the eighth, he started out the inning with a good curve ball for a strike, and got a strikeout with the same curve. His fastball hovered around 95 in that inning, and really had his curve ball working striking out the final batter of the eighth inning. In that inning, his second of the game the righty threw 16 pitches.

Two innings, 30 pitches, no hits, no walks, and four strikeouts for Tanner Scheppers, this was a very impressive inning for the young pitcher. Scheppers started the season with Triple-A Round Rock and was expected to be a starting pitcher. His injury severely derailed his progress, and now he looks to be a relief pitcher (at least for this season). It’s no secret that the Texas Rangers need big bullpen help, and Scheppers was vicious Sunday night. As long as he can avoid further injury issues, we can expect to see Tanner in the bullpen in Arlington.

-Jonathan