Scherzer Signs With Independent League Team
Max Scherzer will try to follow in Luke Hochevar's footsteps in Fort Worth.
Scherzer, the only remaining unsigned first rounder from last year's draft, has signed with the independent Fort Worth Cats (American Association), the same team that Hochevar signed with last spring. After several strong outings in Fort Worth, Hochevar, the 40th pick in the 2005 draft, went No. 1 overall to the Royals last June.
Several other Boras clients have also signed with independent league teams before signing new deals with the teams that had already drafted them. The Diamondbacks signed Stephen Drew after a 19-game stint in the Atlantic League while Jered Weaver signed but did not pitch for an Atlantic League squad.
Scherzer, taken 11th overall last June by the Diamondbacks, is represented by Scott Boras, as is Hochevar. When Boras looked to place Scherzer in Fort Worth, Cats director of player personnel Barry Moss said that he didn't have to think too hard before accepting the offer.
In addition to Scherzer, Fort Worth also signed former Cubs first-rounder Chadd Blasko, another Boras client. Chicago released Blasko at the end of spring training , and the Cats plan to have him pitch in relief behind Scherzer so scouts can see both players on the same night.
Scherzer will make his first start on May 2 in an exhibition game at Baylor's ballpark. He'll throw again May 7 at Fort Worth in an exhibition game, then make his regular-season debut at home on May 12. He'll throw again in Fort Worth on May 18, then on the road in Sioux Falls, S.D., on May 23. He'll return to Fort Worth for a start on May 28, and is scheduled to make one final start on June 2, though Hochevar was scratched from a similar start last year once he'd shown his plus stuff in the previous outings.
According to Moss, Scherzer has been working out at UC Irvine for several months and was ready to go to spring training and pitch had a deal been worked out with the Diamondbacks. He has continued to throw bullpens since, and should be relatively stretched out for his first start.
"The Boras group has some ex-baseball players that know the routines to get this stuff done," Fort Worth manager Stan Hough said. "Max told me he's ready to throw 75-90 pitches right now. We'll probably hold him to 75-80 right off the bat."
Scherzer, still can sign with the Diamondbacks before May 31. He entered 2006 as the top righthanded pitching prospect in the draft after working in the mid- to upper 90s with Missouri and Team USA as a sophomore. But he came down with biceps tendinitis, which took a toll on his stuff and concerned several clubs.
His stint in Fort Worth will give scouts a chance to see if his stuff has returned to the form that he's shown in the past. Scherzer doesn't figure to equal Hochevar's rise to the No. 1 overall pick, but he should benefit from a 2007 draft crop lacking in frontline college righthanders. The only two currently rated as first-rounders are North Carolina State's Andrew Brackman and Texas Christian's Jake Arrieta, both of whom have been disappointing and also are advised by Boras.
"If Max Scherzer is healthy and throwing 95-98 mph like he was as a sophomore," one scouting director said, "he's right behind David Price at the top of the draft."
E-mail
PrintMax Scherzer will try to follow in Luke Hochevar's footsteps in Fort Worth.
Scherzer, the only remaining unsigned first rounder from last year's draft, has signed with the independent Fort Worth Cats (American Association), the same team that Hochevar signed with last spring. After several strong outings in Fort Worth, Hochevar, the 40th pick in the 2005 draft, went No. 1 overall to the Royals last June.
Several other Boras clients have also signed with independent league teams before signing new deals with the teams that had already drafted them. The Diamondbacks signed Stephen Drew after a 19-game stint in the Atlantic League while Jered Weaver signed but did not pitch for an Atlantic League squad.
Scherzer, taken 11th overall last June by the Diamondbacks, is represented by Scott Boras, as is Hochevar. When Boras looked to place Scherzer in Fort Worth, Cats director of player personnel Barry Moss said that he didn't have to think too hard before accepting the offer.
In addition to Scherzer, Fort Worth also signed former Cubs first-rounder Chadd Blasko, another Boras client. Chicago released Blasko at the end of spring training , and the Cats plan to have him pitch in relief behind Scherzer so scouts can see both players on the same night.
Scherzer will make his first start on May 2 in an exhibition game at Baylor's ballpark. He'll throw again May 7 at Fort Worth in an exhibition game, then make his regular-season debut at home on May 12. He'll throw again in Fort Worth on May 18, then on the road in Sioux Falls, S.D., on May 23. He'll return to Fort Worth for a start on May 28, and is scheduled to make one final start on June 2, though Hochevar was scratched from a similar start last year once he'd shown his plus stuff in the previous outings.
According to Moss, Scherzer has been working out at UC Irvine for several months and was ready to go to spring training and pitch had a deal been worked out with the Diamondbacks. He has continued to throw bullpens since, and should be relatively stretched out for his first start.
"The Boras group has some ex-baseball players that know the routines to get this stuff done," Fort Worth manager Stan Hough said. "Max told me he's ready to throw 75-90 pitches right now. We'll probably hold him to 75-80 right off the bat."
Scherzer, still can sign with the Diamondbacks before May 31. He entered 2006 as the top righthanded pitching prospect in the draft after working in the mid- to upper 90s with Missouri and Team USA as a sophomore. But he came down with biceps tendinitis, which took a toll on his stuff and concerned several clubs.
His stint in Fort Worth will give scouts a chance to see if his stuff has returned to the form that he's shown in the past. Scherzer doesn't figure to equal Hochevar's rise to the No. 1 overall pick, but he should benefit from a 2007 draft crop lacking in frontline college righthanders. The only two currently rated as first-rounders are North Carolina State's Andrew Brackman and Texas Christian's Jake Arrieta, both of whom have been disappointing and also are advised by Boras.
"If Max Scherzer is healthy and throwing 95-98 mph like he was as a sophomore," one scouting director said, "he's right behind David Price at the top of the draft."
indicates Premium Content | Copyright © 1999-2008 Baseball America Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. All rights reserved. | Site Map | Frequently Asked Questions/Site Troubleshooting | Privacy Notice | Return/Refund Policy.
Baseball America, 4319 South Alston Avenue, Suite 103, Durham, NC 27713.