SURPRISE, Ariz. – Tanner Scheppers left Arizona last season knowing he was going to be the Opening Day starter for the Texas Rangers.
That honor turned out to be the highlight for Scheppers as he struggled in the opener, had two stints on the disabled list and finished the season with just eight appearances and a 9.00 ERA.
Scheppers will leave Arizona this spring with a different role as he's back as a late-inning reliever and with the mindset of putting a lost 2014 season behind him.
"For me it's all about getting back into the swing of things and getting back to throwing good and feeling good and getting healthy," Scheppers said. "I just want to work on my strengths â my two-seam fastball, my slider combo and go from there. I'm ready to get 2015 going."
The right-hander is one of two relievers who have spots locked up in the bullpen with healthy springs, with closer Neftali Feliz being the other.
He's already left an early favorable impression on new manager Jeff Banister, who is looking forward to using Scheppers in crucial points of the game.
"I think Tanner has, when you look at the stuff and the body of work he has compiled right now, you see that type of stuff," Banister said. "Ultimately your set-up guy there are times he's going to be able to close. So I'd like those guys to have that mentality. The eighth inning is a son of a gun. To get through that eighth inning and turn it over to your closer can be and most likely is a high stress, high-leverage situation."
Scheppers is used to that. In 2013 he was one of the top late-inning relievers in the American League. He ranked in the top 10 in appearances, wins, holds, innings pitched and ERA among AL relievers.
He doesn't think he'll have any problems slipping back into a bullpen role. He returned from his first disabled list stint last season as a reliever before having his season come to an end in June with right elbow inflammation.
"It's something that I experienced before," Scheppers said of relieving. "I learned a lot from that experience (starting) and hopefully I'll be able to take it into the future and learn from it. Other than that I've done the relieving thing for a while. I know what to expect and know how to get my body prepared."
Even though Scheppers knew he'd be relieving this season that doesn't mean he's given up on the idea of starting again in the future. He was a starter during his standout career at Fresno State and believes it's too early to closer that door for good.
"I don't like to give up on anything," said Scheppers, who started 26 times over his final two college seasons." I don't want to put any limitations on myself. Obviously it's still a dream to pitch more. That's what starting is all about to get the ball and try to end with the ball. I'm not going to put limitations on that but now my focus is relieving."
And building a quality bullpen for the Rangers. While there are only two locks, other pitchers like Shawn Tolleson figure to have spots on the squad as well and the rest will start to take shape Wednesday when the Rangers play Cactus League games.
The Rangers' bullpen ERA last season was 4.01, more than a run higher than in 2013 (2.89) when Scheppers was one of the workhorses. He knows the club has the pieces to put together that kind of relief staff again.
"Every spring the bullpen is the last thing to be put together," he said. "There are always a couple of guys fighting for a spot and you always have a couple of guys coming in fighting for a few. It just seems like this year there's a little more uncertainly but there's a lot of great guys out there."
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