AA St. Paul Saints

Former Saints Pitcher Tanner Scheppers Becomes 18th Player in Franchise History to Reach Major Leagu

Published on June 7, 2012 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (June 7, 2012) - He lit up radar guns during his brief stint with the St. Paul Saints. He turned heads each time he was on the mound. Now Tanner Scheppers will get to show his stuff on the grandest of stages: The Major Leagues. The Texas Rangers called up Sheppers on Thursday as the former Saints hurler becomes the 18th player in franchise history to reach the big leagues.

The 25-year-old right-hander went 1-1 in his four starts with the Saints in 2009 with a 3.32 ERA. In 19.0 innings pitched he walked 11 and struck out 20 while the opposition hit just .243 against him. Those numbers showed he had recovered from a shoulder injury during his 2008 season with Fresno State University.

After his time with the Saints, Scheppers was drafted by the Texas Rangers as the 44th overall pick in the June Amateur Draft in 2009. It was the third time Scheppers was drafted in the June Amateur Draft. In 2008 he was selected in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but did not sign and he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 29th round in 2005, but opted to go to college.

Scheppers made his Rangers debut in the Arizona Fall League that season and then in 2010 he began the season at Double-A Frisco where he was stellar in six relief appearances going 0-0 with a 0.82 ERA and two saves. He was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City following those six appearances and was 1-3 with a 5.48 ERA and four saves in 30 games (seven starts). That same season he pitched in the Futures Game in Anaheim and went 0.2 scoreless innings for the U.S. Futures Team.

In 2011 Scheppers began the season at Double-A Frisco and went 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 17 relief appearances before being promoted to Triple-A Round Rock. In 11 games he was 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA and two saves in 11 games (one start).

This season Scheppers began at Triple-A Round Rock and was putting up solid numbers once again. He was 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA and nine saves in 25 relief appearances. In 29.0 innings he's walked just four, struck out 27 and opponents are hitting .270 against him.

Scheppers becomes the first Saints player to reach the Major Leagues since pitcher Brandon Kintzler, who was also on that 2009 team, was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers following the American Association All-Star Game and reached the Major Leagues in 2010.

It's been a busy week for the Saints with Dan Sattler and Wes Roemer having their contracts purchased. During their 20 seasons the Saints have had 106 contracts purchased totaling 101 different players, seven of which were sold to international teams and 18 have reached the ultimate level of the Major Leagues.

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