A fourth Auburn player is moving to the next level after catcher Matt Scheffler signed with the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.
Tanner Burns went in Comp Round A to the Indians, Bailey Horn was drafted in the 5th round to the White Sox and Ryan Watson signed with the Orioles on Sunday.
Scheffler arrived at Auburn prior to the 2019 season as a transfer from Pierce College.
“It’s hard to put into words how amazing Auburn has been,” Scheffler said. “From a junior college kid coming out of Washington, the campus and community welcomed me with open arms. My coaches and teammates made me a better baseball player and a better man and have prepared me as much as possible to take on the next level. I know I have all the support from the Auburn Family, and I cherished my time on The Plains. I can’t wait for this next opportunity.”
At the plate Scheffler was a career .289 hitter and was batting .412 through 18 games of the shortened 2020 season.
Behind the dish Scheffler started at catcher in 74 of his 77 total game appearances. Throughout those games he put together a .989 fielding percentage and threw out 14 would-be base stealers while picking off four others in his career.
Over his time at catcher Auburn pitchers dealt out 777 strikeouts and 12 shutouts.
”He’s made everybody on our team better, our coaching staff better,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “Yeah, he can run for a catcher, way above average, and he has a great arm and can block, but his leadership to serve everybody on our pitching staff and on our team has been exceptional. People see the tools, but what puts him over the top is that the intangibles are off the charts and create a chance for him to have a long professional career.”
Originally from Kirkland, Washington, Scheffler joins his hometown organization with an opportunity to reach the majors.
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