Dominic Scheffler becomes first Swiss player to sign for MLB organization

The Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) signed 17-year-old left-handed pitcher Dominic Scheffler. Born in Zurich, Scheffler became the first-ever player developed in Switzerland to have a chance in affiliated baseball in the United States. Otto Hess (1878-1926, also a left-handed pitcher), the only Swiss-born player to perform at MLB level, developed as a player in the US.

According to a Cincinnati Reds scouting report, Scheffler, who stands 6 feet 4 inches tall (1.95 metres), has a fastball "that works in the low 90s and touches 94 miles (or 150.4 kilometres) per hour. He shows a clean delivery with good arm action and also flashes a good breaking ball."

Scheffler represented Switzerland internationally at the U-18 and the U-23 levels. He attended Sakura Prefectural High School in Chiba, Japan, on an exchange programme in 2021, then attended the Regensburg Academy in Germany. He had been committed to playing collegiate baseball at Seattle University before signing for the Reds.