Prairie graduate Schebler agrees to deal with Dodgers

When Scott Schebler was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 26th round of June's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, he was quite certain he wouldn't turn professional and would head to powerhouse Wichita State for three years of college baseball instead.The Dodgers gave him 300,000 reasons to change his mind. That's the contract signing bonus (in dollars, of course) the team and the former Cedar Rapids Prairie prep agreed to Monday, the last day MLB clubs could sign their 2010 draft picks.“Dream come true,” said Schebler, who played this past season for Des Moines Area Community College. “A life-changing decision. It was definitely difficult. I just did what I thought was best for me.”An outfielder, Schebler raised his pro stock considerably this summer playing for the Green Bay Bullfrogs of the collegiate Northwoods League. He hit 10 home runs in 58 games and was named to the league's postseason all-star team.The Dodgers also are paying for four years of college tuition for the 19-year-old left-handed hitter.“They came up money wise,” he said. “That was the main reason (for signing). I just think this is a great opportunity for me.”Cedar Rapids Xavier pitcher Jon Keller, meanwhile, appears to be headed to college instead of pro ball. Keller was an 11th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners but had not agreed to contract terms as of deadline.The MLB signing deadline was 11 p.m. Iowa time. Keller's father, Al, said last weekend the family had turned down three previous offers from Seattle and said his son would honor his commitment to the University of Nebraska if he didn't turn pro.The Mariners signed 16th-round pick Jordan Shipers - also a high school pitcher - to a contract Monday afternoon that included an $800,000 bonus, another indication they wouldn't be signing Keller. A message left with the Keller family last night was not immediately returned.