• Full name Nicholas James Tepesch
  • Born 10/12/1988 in Kansas City, MO
  • Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School Missouri
  • Debut 04/09/2013
  • Drafted in the 14th round (436th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2010 (signed for $400,000).
    View Draft Report
    If Tepesch hadn't angled for a seven-figure bonus, he would have gone in the first three rounds of the 2007 draft coming out of high school. He was seen as the next in the recent line of Missouri first-round pitchers--Max Scherzer, Aaron Crow, Kyle Gibson--and while he won't get chosen that high, he still offers intriguing upside. He's a 6-foot-5, 225-pounder whose arm works well, and he added polish in the Cape Cod League last summer and with the Tigers this spring. He opened the season pitching in the high 80s, but his fastball has settled in at 90-92 mph and touched 94. He can run his fastball into the mid-90s, but has found better command and success not trying to max out his velocity. Tepesch's secondary pitches are getting better but still need work. His curveball is his No. 2 offering but is inconsistent, and he has made the most strides with his changeup this spring. He also throws a cutter. In part because of his size, Tepesch has a long arm action that makes it easier for hitters to pick up his pitches. He's still a work in progress, but he's also showing improvement.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Best Tools List

  • Rated Best Control in the Texas Rangers in 2013
  • Rated Best Slider in the Texas Rangers in 2013

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