Dodgers prospect Schebler living a dream in professional baseball

BURLINGTON – Scott Schebler never saw this coming.

Playing professionally and hitting cleanup for the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. Having people ask him to autograph his Topps baseball card.

Never in a million years did he think this was likely, when he was excelling in five sports at Cedar Rapids Prairie. He loved baseball, but he loved soccer, track, basketball and football, too.

“I never thought this would be an option for me,” Schebler said Monday night, before his Loons played the Burlington Bees at Community Field. “I thought I'd play football, to tell you the truth. I mean, I'd go to Perfect Game (events), and it'd be like ‘Wow, this would be pretty cool if I played here one of these days.' But I just never saw it in my future. I have one good year, and look what happens.”

Schebler, 21, played as a freshman in 2010 at Des Moines Area Community College in Boone and got drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 26Northwoods League convinced the Dodgers to go well over slot when it came to a signing bonus, and, voila, Schebler was a pro.

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round. A great summer in the collegiate

The left-handed hitting right fielder had 38 extra-base hits in 70 games last season in Rookie ball and is very much on the Dodgers' radar.

“For sure,” Great Lakes Manager John Shoemaker said, when asked if Schebler has a chance at making it to the big leagues someday. “When you start breaking down tools on a baseball player, he's got running speed, a good arm, good power, he can play defense, and he can hit. That doesn't mean he's a guaranteed all-star. But with that ability … some people have just two tools and they make it.

“What you can't measure is how hard somebody is going to work and how quickly one can adapt, make the adjustments necessary. Those are the intangibles. I feel like this guy is going to pay any price to succeed. Now it's just a matter of ‘Can I adapt quicker than the pitcher can adapt to me?' We like Scotty. We couldn't be happier with him.”

Schebler finished a three-game series at Burlington, the only one his team plays in Iowa this season, with a .239 batting average and team-leading 12 RBIs. He continues to show extra-base pop, with seven doubles, a triple and home run.

And he picked up his first walk in over 70 at-bats, taking a four-pitch free pass Monday night. He knows better selectivity at the plate is a must as his career progresses.

The Dodgers have done a lot of work on his swing mechanics, getting rid of a significant leg kick and trying to help him level out an uppercut swing. Schebler said the adjustments are ongoing, but he feels good about his progress.

“I want to hit at least 15 home runs this season. That would be nice,” he said. “Just feel good about myself after the season. Feel like I had a solid season, feel like I helped the team win. Obviously I want to win the championship here.”

Schebler said he wouldn't change a thing if he had to do his high-school athletics career over again. He's proud to show youths they don't have to specialize at an early age. Or even a later age.

You can do it all and still realize your ultimate dreams.

“You've got to,” he said. “To concentrate so early on one sport, I don't like it. I liked doing all the sports, it gave you something different. It trains different muscles, gives you different skills. Then you can put it all together afterwards.

“You know, this has been a dream come true. Awesome. Everything I bargained for.”

Here is a quick video interview with Schebler: