The day before BA went to press with our 2008 Draft Preview issue, Fresno State righthander Tanner Scheppers ranked No. 10 among all draftable players. Then news broke May 15 that Scheppers was injured; while the details of the injury were never divulged to reporters, Scheppers’ agent Greg Genske of Legacy Sports acknowledged "significant wear and tear" after an examination with noted baseball surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Scheppers went in the second round anyway to the Pirates, and after a summer of rehabilitation, he threw for Pirates officials prior to the Aug. 15 signing deadline. The Pirates and Genske never came to an agreement, though, and rumors had swirled about Scheppers’ future plans, which seemed limited to independent ball or perhaps a transfer to an NAIA school. Today the St. Paul Saints of the independent Northern League announced they have signed Scheppers, ending the mystery, at least for now, and giving indy ball two of the top three college pitchers available in the ’08 draft, joining Fort Worth Cats righthander Aaron Crow. The former Missouri righthander didn’t sign with the Nationals as the No. 9 overall pick.