Coasters column: Eyes of Texas on Beerer

Steve Virgen

Scott Beerer says the Orange Coast College baseball team will be a

“powerhouse” next season and if he plays up to that level, he could be

signing a contract to play for the Texas Rangers.

The Newport Harbor High product, who recently completed a successful

season with the Pirates, was selected in the 23rd round (681st overall)

of Major League Baseball’s Amateur Draft Wednesday, the second day of the

draft.

He met with a Rangers’ scout, Todd Guggiana, Thursday, which resulted

in a draft-and-follow agreement.

Said Beerer, “Knowing that I was going to be a draft-and-follow, I

didn’t think I was going to go that high. I felt fortunate, for Texas to

take me that high. (The Rangers) must have thought highly of me.”

After battling back problems throughout his senior year as a Sailor,

Beerer missed most of his final prep season to rehab. His comeback was

better than he expected when he earned first-team All-Orange Empire

Conference honors for OCC as a freshman this spring.

He gained first-team status as a utility player, finishing the regular

season with a .370 batting average, the second-highest mark on the team.

Beerer also posted a 5-2 pitching record to go with a 2.73 ERA. He struck

out 52 and walked just 14 in 69 1/3 innings of work.

“It’s just all my life I wanted to play beyond the college level,”

Beerer said of what motivated him to fight through his back injury and

continue in the game. “Things were up in the air for me because of my

back injury. I was just looking to get back into it. Luckily, I fit right

into OCC. I had a great year. I surprised myself, especially, coming off

an injury and not playing for a year.”

Beerer also said he had talked to officials from the Detroit Tigers

and Tampa Bay Devil Rays and was prepared to be taken by one of those

teams. He was aware the Rangers had been scouting him.

After getting out of his political science summer school class at OCC,

he checked his messages on his cell phone and his mother revealed the

good news to him.

“Texas did come as a surprise to me,” Beerer said. “I didn’t know they

were that high on me. They took me as a pitcher, but they know I can play

other spots. They believe my best spot is as a pitcher.”

Beerer will begin his all-important season when he and the rest of the

Pirates start summer training Tuesday.

“Things are looking good for next season,” he said. “I love the group

of guys I have played with (at OCC). It’s just fun playing with these

guys.”

The Pirates’ coaching staff has been instrumental in Beerer’s rise and

his optimism for next season.

“I like (Coach John Altobelli) a lot,” Beerer said. “He was great

during the season. “(Assistants) Tim McDonnell and Dave Bowman, I love

their coaching styles. They’ve helped me in a lot of off-the-field

stuff.”

Altobelli had scouted Beerer’s senior season at Newport and focused

his concern on the young player’s health. And, through tireless work,

Beerer says he is 100% and the back problems are gone.

“He’s a hard worker,” Altobelli said of Beerer. “Mentally, he’s one of

the toughest kids I’ve had. I had a ($5) bet with (a high school) coach

that he wouldn’t be healthy more than three games. I need to go collect.”