99. Chad Sheppard: RP
11-30-10:
- Mack: Morning everybody. We're talking
today to Mack's Keepers #67 and the Mets' 17th round draft pick in 2010, closer
Chad Sheppard. Hey Chad. How's the off-season going?
Sheppard: It's going great, I just finished up PT and
I'm feeling strong. Other than that I've just been hunting fishing and getting
myself ready for ST.
Mack: Chad, the first question is the same one I
ask everybody. Take us back to that day your name was called out and tell us
how that felt.
Sheppard: It was a day that I’ll always remember.
Playing pro ball was something that I had dreamed about since I was little. I
was with my family and they were all happy when they heard my name. Even though
draft day is stressful, it was one of the best days of my life.
Mack: So, what was the first thing you bought with
the signup moolah?
Sheppard: Haha, the first thing that I bought was a new
boat...I love to fish have been wanting a boat for a long time and now I can
fish wherever I want. My friends are happy with that decision too, it seems
like I always have a fishing partner!
Mack:
Ok... that's the first boat I found... 80% say a new truck. Chad, you went low in the draft because most
of so-called draft experts had you as a no-sign. What made you change your
mind?
Sheppard: Well my mind was never made on not signing.
From the beginning of the year I had set my mind on getting drafted and
starting my pro career. I was really counting on going higher but when it came
down to it, I guess I was just ready to play.
Mack: Good. And believe me, no one knows what they
are going to do until the moment they do it. Chad, everybody loved you when
your fast ball (with sink) was 90-92. Now, you're up to 96... what else do you
throw?
Sheppard: Well, in college I got by with throwing a lot
of fastballs...and as long as I could throw strikes and get ahead in counts I
could put people away with my slider. I've thrown a splitter some but I'm
really working on a solid change.
Mack: Your old coach at State said you really
worked your ass off on developing your pitches, especially your breaking ball.
I'm going to assume you will enter the Mets organization as a closer, and I
have you slotted for A+ ball in Port St. Lucie.
FYI... the only other "successful" closers in the system right
now are Victor Peralta (slotted to come from the DSL Mets to either the GCL
Mets or Kingsport) and Ryan Fraser, who pitching coaches hinted at during the
end of last season that might be turned into a starter.
Is
there a question here? Yes... what have
you planned in the off-season to get you ready for March?
Sheppard: Well, thanks, I know that I have a lot of
ground to make up so Im just working hard to get back in shape physically and
mentally. I’m ready to step up for the Mets organization and deliver. Playing
ball in St. Lucie would be fine with me and I def think I could help the
club...Overall I've got to get back on my game and Im making all the stops this
off season to get there.
Mack:
Chad, that's all any fan can ask. Thanks for your time and I hope to run
into you on the back fields in March.
8-14-11:
-
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/kingsport-mets-team-report-stretch-run-edition.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29&utm_content=Twitter
- Chad Sheppard - The 6’4″ RHP out of Northwestern State University, was the
2010 17th round draft pick. In only 18 IP over 12 games for Kingsport, he has
gone 1-1 with a pedestrian ERA of 4.58, but has shown some interesting
peripherals so far: In his 18 IP, he has given up 14 hits for an opponents BA
of .209, but the thing you notice is his K/BB ratio which is 24/12. With a K/9
of 12.0, and a BB/9 of 6.0, he has showed a very “live” arm so far, and with an
improvement in his command, he could evolve into a closer down the road.9
No comments:
Post a Comment