Tanner Scheppers

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Tanner Scheppers

| image = 20150630-0488 Tanner Scheppers.jpg

| image_size = 260px

| caption = Scheppers with the Texas Rangers in 2015

| team =

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|1|17}}

| birth_place = Mission Viejo, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 7

| debutyear = 2012

| debutteam = Texas Rangers

|debut2league = NPB

| debut2date = March 30

| debut2year = 2018

| debut2team = Chiba Lotte Marines

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = June 29

| finalyear = 2017

| finalteam = Texas Rangers

|final2league = NPB

| final2date = August 18

| final2year = 2018

| final2team = Chiba Lotte Marines

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 12–7

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.25

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 147

| stat2league = NPB

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 1-3

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 4.54

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 34

| teams =

Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2017}})
Chiba Lotte Marines ({{npby|2018}})

}}

Tanner Ross Scheppers (born January 17, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines. Prior to playing professionally, he played college baseball at Fresno State.

Amateur career

Scheppers played shortstop at Dana Hills High School in Dana Point, California. When his high school team experienced a shortage of pitchers, Scheppers was pressed into action as a pitcher.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/season-preview/2008/265642.html|title=BaseballAmerica.com: College: Season Preview: Quick Jumper|date=February 19, 2008|access-date=February 22, 2016}} The Baltimore Orioles drafted Scheppers in the 29th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, but he opted to attend California State University, Fresno to play for the Fresno State Bulldogs instead. Fresno State recruited Scheppers as a shortstop, but used him as a pitcher.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/scheppers-506594-one-innings.html|title=O.C. in the Majors: Scheppers lands in Texas bullpen|work=The Orange County Register|date=May 2013|access-date=February 22, 2016}}

In 2008, his junior year, Scheppers had an 8–2 win–loss record with a 2.93 earned run average and 109 strikeouts in {{frac|70|2|3}} innings pitched, and was named the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. Fresno State won the 2008 College World Series, though Scheppers did not play in the tournament due to an injured rotator cuff and labrum in his shoulder.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/fresno-state-wins-college-world-series-article-1.294013|title=Fresno State wins College World Series|work=New York Daily News|agency=Associated Press|date=June 26, 2008|access-date=February 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/earns-502741-hills-scheppers.html|title=Dana Hills' Scheppers earns spot in the show|work=The Orange County Register|date=April 4, 2013|access-date=February 22, 2016}}

Professional career

Due to the shoulder injury, Scheppers fell in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft to the second round, with the 48th overall selection, where he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{cite web|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_575536.html|title=Scheppers' signing hinges on health|author=Rob Biertempfel|date=July 2, 2008|work=TribLIVE.com|access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804050835/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_575536.html|archive-date=August 4, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} The Pirates offered Scheppers less money than he was hoping for, and he opted not to sign with the Pirates.

=St. Paul Saints=

Scheppers signed with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball for the 2009 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/2009/06/07/tanner-scheppers-solid-in-final-appearance-as-st-paul-saints-sweep-doubleheader/|title=Tanner Scheppers solid in final appearance as St. Paul Saints sweep doubleheader|work=Twin Cities|date=June 7, 2009|access-date=February 22, 2016}} In 4 starts 19 innings he went 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 20 strikeouts.

=Texas Rangers=

File:Tanner Scheppers 2012.jpg

Scheppers was chosen in the supplementary first round, with the 44th overall selection, of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers. Teams passed on him again due to injury concerns, as some believed he had a partially torn labrum, which would require surgery.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090618&content_id=5392254&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb|title=Rangers Draft pick may need surgery|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=February 22, 2016}} Scheppers also was the pitching coach for the junior varsity baseball team at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, California, for the 2009 season.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20091119&content_id=7690846&vkey=news..|title=Scheppers, Teagarden excited for '10|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=February 22, 2016}}

On September 17, 2009, Scheppers signed with the Texas Rangers to a minor league deal.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/#month=9&year=2009|title=Major League Baseball Transactions|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=February 22, 2016}} Scheppers was selected to represent the United States in the All-Star Futures Game in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/3475381|title=Futures game: Hank Conger lifts USA; RedHawks' Tanner Scheppers pitches in ninth|work=NewsOK.com|date=July 11, 2010|access-date=February 22, 2016}}

On June 7, 2012, Scheppers was called up to the majors when Derek Holland was placed on the 15-day disabled list. On the same day, he made his Major League debut for the Texas Rangers in relief of Yu Darvish, and gave up a solo home run and struck out 2 in {{frac|1|2|3}} innings in a 7–1 loss to the Oakland Athletics.{{cite web|title=New sheriff in town: Tanner Scheppers|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers/post/_/id/4885020/new-sheriff-in-town-tanner-scheppers|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 10, 2012|date=June 7, 2012}} Scheppers picked up his first win on August 16, 2012, when the Rangers defeated the New York Yankees.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} In 2013, Scheppers made 76 relief appearances for the Rangers, tied for the third-most in the American League.{{cite web|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article3863281.html|title=Tanner Scheppers acknowledges his season could be over|work=star-telegram|access-date=February 22, 2016}}

In 2013 Scheppers reported that he was randomly assaulted and "sucker punched" in Cleveland while walking back to the team hotel after dinner. Reports later emerged which indicated that he been in a bar fight and was using the random assault story as a cover. [https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/scheppers-in-a-bar-fight/]

The Rangers named Scheppers their Opening Day starting pitcher in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/tanner-scheppers-named-rangers-opening-day-starter/c-70151036|title=Tanner Scheppers named Rangers' Opening Day starter|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=February 22, 2016}} However, he experienced right elbow inflammation and went on the disabled list in April, after making four starts.{{cite web|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article3854362.html|title=Rangers place Tanner Scheppers on DL with elbow injury|work=star-telegram|access-date=February 22, 2016}} He returned to the Rangers in June as a relief pitcher, and returned to the disabled list with elbow inflammation after making four appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/11068069/tanner-scheppers-texas-rangers-placed-dl-elbow-problem|title=Tanner Scheppers of Texas Rangers placed on DL with elbow problem|work=ESPN.com|date=June 11, 2014|access-date=February 22, 2016}} Scheppers missed the last two months of the 2015 season with a bone bruise in his left knee.{{cite web|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article61499622.html|title=Rangers notes: Tanner Scheppers out at least first half of season|work=star-telegram|access-date=February 22, 2016}}

Scheppers was diagnosed with torn cartilage in his left knee before the 2016 season, and required surgery, which kept him out until September.{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2016/02/scheppers_out_for_half_season_with_knee_injury|title=Scheppers out for half season with knee injury|access-date=February 22, 2016}}

He was sent outright to Triple-A Round Rock Express on April 15, 2017. He had his contract purchased on June 19, 2017. He was optioned back to the minor leagues on July 2, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/07/rangers-acquire-jason-grilli.html|title=Rangers Acquire Jason Grilli|first1=Mark|last1=Polishuk|website=MLBTradeRumors.com|date=July 2, 2017|access-date=August 1, 2017}} He was designated for assignment on August 26.

Scheppers left the Rangers organization in October 2017, becoming a minor league free agent.{{cite web|last1=Fraley|first1=Gerry|title=Scheppers cuts ties to Rangers, takes minor-league free agency|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2017/10/21/scheppers-cuts-ties-rangers-takes-minor-league-free-agency|website=DallsNews.com|date=October 21, 2017|access-date=23 October 2017}}

= Chiba Lotte Marines =

On January 15, 2018, he signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.co.jp/news/detail/00001820.html |title=タナー・シェッパーズ投手獲得について |work=千葉ロッテマリーンズオフィシャルサイト |language=ja |date=January 15, 2018|access-date=January 15, 2018}} He became a free agent after the season.

= Long Island Ducks =

On May 27, 2019, Scheppers signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 8 games for the Ducks, he struggled to a 9.35 ERA with 10 strikeouts across {{fraction|8|2|3}} innings pitched. Scheppers was released by Long Island on June 22.

Scheppers announced his retirement via Instagram on October 24, 2019.{{Cite Instagram |user=tschep77 |last=Scheppers |first=Tanner |author-link=Tanner Scheppers |postid=B3__i5sjNA4 |title=Thank you for such an amazing ride. To everyone that helped me along the way, I am extremely grateful. |date=October 24, 2019|access-date=May 15, 2024}}

References

External links

{{baseballstats| mlb=489294|espn=30454| br=s/schepta01|fangraphs=10267| brm=schepp001tan}}

[http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/scheppers_tanner00.html Fresno State Player Bio: Tanner Scheppers]
[http://www.saintsbaseball.com/team/roster/index.html?player_id=100 St. Paul Saints Bio]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
[http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=489294 Official player page]
[http://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/93595136.html NPB.com]

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan

Category:Baseball players from Orange County, California

Category:Chiba Lotte Marines players

Category:Fresno State Bulldogs baseball players

Category:Frisco RoughRiders players

Category:Long Island Ducks players

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela

Category:Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers