Report Suggests Rangers' Scheppers Injured In Bar Fight
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) -- The Texas Rangers said 27-year-old Tanner Scheppers suffered a bruised left eye and two small cuts above his nose after being assaulted in downtown Cleveland last week. Now, reports are questioning the validity of Scheppers' story.
An incident report filed by the Cleveland Police Department (via MLB.com) suggests the pitcher may have been involved in a bar fight around 2:30 a.m.
The preliminary investigation reveals that on Friday, July 26, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Texas Ranger pitcher Tanner Scheppers was involved in a physical altercation at Panini's Bar, located on W. 6th Street.
Further investigation reveals that the altercation was called in by Downtown Alliance workers, and that Third District officers responded to the scene to investigate. Once on scene, officers attempted to get information from Scheppers for a report. However, he refused to provide information and refused to make a police report. Further, officers called for EMS, and he refused medical attention and EMS was disregarded. The officers then conveyed Scheppers and another male to the Rangers' team hotel.
There is nothing further at this time.
According to the Cleveland Scene, Scheppers was joined by teammates Joe Nathan, A.J. Pierzynski, and "a bunch of girls." The report states that Scheppers was a verbal instigator and was jawing back and forth a few minutes before the physical altercation took place.
"He lost a bar fight," one witness told the Cleveland Scene. "He had 10 chances to walk away before this happened."
The Rangers released a statement in response to the reports.
Following today's reports, the Texas Rangers are in the process of investigating the incident involving Tanner Scheppers on Thursday night. The club has been in contact with officials from the Cleveland Police Department and the Cleveland Indians. Until our investigation is complete, no one from the organization will have any further comment on this matter.
The 6-foot-4-inch Scheppers originally said he was out getting dinner a few blocks from the team's hotel when he was "sucker punched" by several young men.
Scheppers was held out of Friday's game, but tossed one scoreless inning in the team's 6-0 loss on Sunday. He declined to comment following the game.
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