Jared Shuster

Jared Shuster
Shuster with the Gwinnett Stripers in 2023
Chicago White Sox – No. 51
Pitcher
Born: (1998-08-03) August 3, 1998 (age 26) New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 2, 2023, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics (through 2024 season)
Win–loss record	6–8
Earned run average	5.00
Strikeouts	86
Teams
Atlanta Braves (2023) Chicago White Sox (2024–present)

Jared Craig Shuster (born August 3, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at Wake Forest University. The Atlanta Braves selected him in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with them in 2023.

Amateur career

High school

Shuster attended New Bedford High School before transferring to Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, graduating in 2017.^[1][2] He had a 6–0 win–loss record with an 0.45 earned run average (ERA) as a freshman at New Bedford High School, throwing in the mid-80s and touching the high-80s.^[3] Then at Tabor Academy, he was 2–1 with a 1.88 ERA as a sophomore, 3–2 with a 2.40 ERA as a junior, and 4–3 with a 1.26 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched as a senior while he was captain of the team.^[1][4] As a junior he batted .506 with nine doubles and six home runs in 25 games, and as a senior both pitching and playing outfield he batted .347 with four home runs.^[1][4] He also played basketball.^[1]

College

Shuster played college baseball at Wake Forest University for the Demon Deacons.^[5][6] As a freshman he was 0–3 with a 7.41 ERA, and as a sophomore he was 4-4 with a 6.49 ERA while striking out 94 batters in 68 innings (12.4 K/9IP, the third-highest ratio in school history) and was twice named Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week.^[1][7][8] As a junior in 2020 in a season shortened by Covid he was 2–1 with a 3.76 ERA, as in four starts he struck out 43 batters (tied for third in the ACC) and walked 4 in 261⁄3 innings (14.7 K/9IP), and had 10.75 strikeouts per walk (second), holding batters to a .221 batting average.^{[9][1][7][8][10]}

After the 2018 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the New Bedford Bay Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, and was 2–4 with a 2.76 ERA and a league-leading 62 strikeouts in 49 innings.^[1] After the 2019 season, Shuster played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was 4–0 with a 1.36 ERA with 36 strikeouts (6th in the league) and 5 walks in 33 innings, and was named a league All-Star.^[1][11][12]

His sinking two-seam and riding four-seam fastball was 92–94 mph and hit 97 mph, and Shuster's best pitch was his 80 mph changeup (that he throws over 10 miles per hour slower than his fastball, and which he throws in any count), which produced a 60% whiff rate.^{[13][14][15][16][3][17]} He also had an improving slider.^[18]

Professional career

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves selected Shuster in the first round, with the 25th pick, of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft.^[7][19][20] He was the seventh first-round draft pick in Wake Forest history.^[16][2] He signed for a signing bonus of $2,197,500; because the 2020 season was uncertain, 2020 draft picks received a maximum of $100,000 up front, and the rest of their bonus was to be deferred over the following two years.^[10][21][22] Shuster's signing bonus was regarded as under slot, and the Braves reallocated the savings to sign Bryce Elder.^[23]

Shuster was included in the Braves' pool of 60 players eligible to participate in the 2020 regular season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but did not play.^[24] He started the 2021 season at the Single-A level with the Rome Braves.^[25] In September 2021, Shuster was promoted to the Double-A Mississippi Braves.^[26] Between the two teams, in 2021 he was 2-0 with a 4.44 ERA, as in 73 innings he struck out 90 batters (11.1 strikeouts per 9 innings).^[27] He was named a 2021 MiLB.com Organization All-Star.^[28]

Shuster was placed on the Mississippi Braves 2022 Opening Day roster after spending some time at minor league spring training camp.^[29][30] On April 16, 2022, Shuster struck out eight consecutive Biloxi Shuckers' batters, which tied a Southern League record.^[31] Mid-season, he was a 2022 All-Star Futures Game selection.^[32] He was named a Southern League Post-Season All-Star.^[33] With Mississippi, he was 6-7 with one save and a 2.78 ERA (10th in the league) in 17 games (16 starts) covering 902⁄3 innings, in which he gave up 65 hits and 22 walks, and had 106 strikeouts and an 0.960 WHIP (6th), with 4.82 strikeouts/walk (7th).^[34][35] He then pitched for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers in the International League, and was 1-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 10 games (9 starts) in which he pitched 482⁄3 innings.^[34] He was named an MiLB Organization All-Star for the second straight season.^[33]

Shuster began 2023 rated as the No. 1 prospect in the Braves organization by mlb.com.^[36] In spring training prior to the 2023 regular season, Shuster competed with Dylan Dodd for the fifth spot in the Atlanta Braves’ starting rotation.^[37][38] On March 26, 2023, after Kyle Wright was placed on the injured list, it was announced that both Shuster and Dodd had made the Opening Day roster and would pitch out of the rotation for the time being.^[39] Shuster lost his major league debut against the Washington Nationals on April 2, pitching 4+2⁄3 innings, and yielding four earned runs, all during the first inning.^[40][41] On May 21, Shuster gained his first win, giving up only one hit and one walk along with seven strikeouts in six innings in a game against the Seattle Mariners.^[42][43][44]

In 2023 with the Braves, Shuster was 4-3 with a 5.81 ERA in 11 starts covering 52.2 innings.^[34]

Chicago White Sox

On November 16, 2023, the Braves traded Shuster to the Chicago White Sox, along with Michael Soroka, Nicky Lopez, Braden Shewmake and Riley Gowens in exchange for Aaron Bummer.^[45][46] He was optioned to the Triple–A Charlotte Knights to begin the 2024 season.^[47] On April 8, 2024, Shuster was called up to the White Sox's roster and made his White Sox debut the same day, pitching 3 innings as a reliever against the Cleveland Guardians.^[48] Shuster was optioned to Triple–A on April 16,^[49] was called back up to the White Sox's roster for a doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals, but saw no action and was optioned again to Triple–A on April 17.^[50][51]

In 2024 with the White Sox, Shuster was 2-5 with a 4.30 ERA in 39 games (4 starts) covering 73.1 innings.

Personal life

Shuster is the son of Bennett and Lori Shuster, and is Jewish.^[1][52] He has a sister, Alexa.^[53] His hometown is New Bedford, Massachusetts.^[1] He is 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), and 210 pounds (95 kg), and is considered athletic, as he runs a 6.5 second 60-yard dash.^[17] As a child, Shuster's favorite Major League Baseball team was the Boston Red Sox.^[54]

See also

• List of Jewish Major League Baseball players

References

1. "Jared Shuster - Baseball". Wake Forest University Athletics.
2. "New Bedford's Jared Shuster was selected by the Braves in the 1st round | Boston.com". www.boston.com.
3. Kurie, Brendan. "It's been 25 years since a former New Bedford High baseball player was taken in the MLB Draft. Jared Shuster is about to change that". southcoasttoday.com.
4. "Jared Shuster was named the Tabor Academy Player of the Game vs. Worcester Academy on Sat, 4/29/2017". www.maxpreps.com.
5. Kurie, Brendan (June 5, 2020). "It's been 25 years since a former New Bedford High baseball player was taken in the MLB Draft. Jared Shuster is about to change that". SouthCoastToday.
6. Conor O'Neill (June 9, 2020). "Wake Forest trio prepares for launch into unknown MLB landscape". Winston-Salem Journal.
7. "Jared Shuster Amateur & College Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
8. "Jared Shuster Player Card - The Baseball Cube". www.thebaseballcube.com.
9. "Wake Forest pitcher Jared Shuster taken in 1st Round by Atlanta". DemonDeaconDigest.com.
10. Journal, Conor O’Neill Winston-Salem (June 10, 2020). "Jared Shuster drafted by Braves in first round of MLB draft". Winston-Salem Journal.
11. Nick Friar (July 10, 2019). "Cape League becomes latest stop in Jared Shuster's baseball journey". SouthCoastToday.
12. Greg Dudek (June 3, 2020). "Cape Cod breakout last year puts P Jared Shuster on MLB radar". Boston Herald.
13. NJ.com, Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for (June 9, 2020). "MLB Draft 2020: Yankees pick promising pitcher in latest expert mock draft (VIDEO)". nj.
14. Keeler, Rick (June 4, 2020). "2020 MLB Draft Profile: Jared Shuster, LHP, Wake Forest".
15. "Braves draft Wake Forest left-hander Jared Shuster". SI.com. June 10, 2020.
16. Burns, Gabriel; Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta. "Braves select left-hander Jared Shuster with 25th pick in draft". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
17. "Atlanta Braves fans will love their newest lefty Jared Shuster". June 12, 2020.
18. Cornett, Aaron (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta Braves 2020 MLB Draft Recap".
19. Gabriel Burns (June 10, 2020). "Braves select left-hander Jared Shuster with 25th pick in draft". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
20. Conor O’Neill (June 10, 2020). "Jared Shuster drafted by Braves in first round of MLB draft". Winston-Salem Journal.
21. Price, Kelly (June 23, 2020). "Braves sign four draft picks, six non-drafted prospects". FOX 5 Atlanta.
22. "New Bedford's Jared Shuster Signs with Atlanta Braves". June 21, 2020.
23. Gilberto, Gerard (September 14, 2021). "Scouting report: Braves' Jared Shuster". MILB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022. Shuster signed for a $2.20 million bonus, which was just enough below slot to be able to reallocate that pool money toward fifth-rounder Bryce Elder's $847,500 bonus.
24. Burns, Gabe (August 27, 2020). "Jared Shuster Could Just Be Scratching Surface". Baseball America. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
25. "2021 Rome Braves Opening Day Roster Released". MILB.com. May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2022. Republished as: "Rome Braves announce opening day roster". Rome News-Tribune. May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
26. "2020 first-round pick LHP Jared Shuster promoted to Mississippi on Wednesday". MILB.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
27. "Jared Shuster Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
28. "Jared Shuster Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
29. "Atlanta Braves announce M-Braves Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
30. Toscano, Justin (March 8, 2022). "Braves prospects Ryan Cusick, Jared Shuster continue journey together". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
31. Harris, Chris (April 16, 2022). "Shuster makes history with 12 strikeouts, M-Braves shutout Biloxi in rain-shortened game". MILB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022. and Trujillo, Nick (April 16, 2022). "Shuster fans 12, ties Southern League record with 8 straight K's". MLB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
32. "Yankees' Jasson Dominguez, A's Shea Langeliers lead AL to Futures Game win". ESPN. Associated Press. July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
33. "Jared Shuster Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
34. "Jared Shuster Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
35. "2022 Southern League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
36. "Jared Shuster," mlb.com.
37. Bowman, Mark (March 12, 2023). "'If you're ready, you're ready': Shuster makes case for 5th starter". MLB.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
38. Bowman, Mark (March 18, 2023). "Dodd makes his case for Braves' rotation spot". MLB.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
39. "With Wright on IL, rookies Shuster, Dodd to join Braves' rotation". Cherokee Tribune and Ledger-News. March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
40. Bowman, Mark (April 2, 2023). "Despite rocky start, Shuster's debut 'a dream'". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
41. "MacKenzie Gore quiets Braves, wins Nationals debut 4-1". ESPN. April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
42. "Atlanta rookie Shuster allows only 1 hit as Braves edge Mariners 3-2 for series win". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 21, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
43. Toscano, Justin (May 21, 2023). "Jared Shuster earns first MLB win as Braves take series over Mariners". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
44. Bowman, Mark (May 21, 2023). "Top prospect Shuster earns 1st win with best outing yet". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
45. Toscano, Justin (November 16, 2023). "Braves trade Michael Soroka, four others to White Sox for reliever Aaron Bummer". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
46. Merkin, Scott (November 16, 2023). "White Sox trade for Soroka, Lopez, 3 others from Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
47. "White Sox's Jared Shuster: Sent to minor-league camp". cbssports.com. March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
48. "White Sox' John Brebbia lands on injured list; Jared Shuster recalled from Charlotte". Chicago Sun Times. April 8, 2024.
49. "White Sox's Jared Shuster: Optioned to Charlotte". CBS Sports. April 16, 2024.
50. "White Sox's Jared Shuster: Back as 27th man for doubleheader". CBS Sports. April 17, 2024.
51. "White Sox's Jared Shuster: Returns to minors". CBS Sports. April 17, 2024.
52. "Braves draft Jared Shuster in 1st round | Jewish Baseball News".
53. Kurie, Brendan. "New Bedford's Jared Shuster talks about being a first-round MLB draft pick". southcoasttoday.com.
54. Bowman, Mark (March 17, 2023). "'It was really good': Shuster's scoreless start impresses". MLB.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.

External links

• Jared Shuster on Twitter

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons bio