Switzerland’s Dominic Scheffler has signed a professional contract with the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the first Swiss-born ball player who started his playing career in the country to sign with a Major League organization.
The 6’4″ 18-year-old, who had previously committed to play at NCAA Division 1’s Seattle University, was seventh on Perfect Game’s inaugural ranking of top European prospects in March 2022, with the amateur scouting service noting at the time that he “possesses a heater that works in the upper-80s”, with “plenty more in the tank as he continues to physically develop. Pro scouts are aware of the Swiss southpaw.”
The reports surrounding Scheffler’s signing with the Reds indicate that he now throws in the low-90s, with his fastball topping out at 94 miles per hour.
The Zurich-born Scheffler played his club baseball in Switzerland with the Rümlang Kobras and Zurich Barracudas and has represented the country at the U18 and U23 levels. He also spent time refining his game in Japan and has most recently been training in Germany at the Guggenberger Legionäre Regensburg academy. Scheffler made two appearances for the club in the German second division in 2022, striking out 12 batters in seven innings of work.
The southpaw will complete his high school studies in Regensburg before flying to the US in late June.