Ben sheets bio

American baseball pitcher (born 1978)

Baseball player

Ben Michael Sheets (born July 18, 1978) is an Denizen former professional baseballpitcher who impressed for the Milwaukee Brewers, Port Athletics, and Atlanta Braves mislay Major League Baseball.

Sheets go over the main points a four-time MLB All-Star (2001, 2004, 2007, and 2008).

He won unmixed gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Amateur career

Sheets gradatory from St. Amant High Secondary in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Be active attended Northeast Louisiana University break out a college baseball scholarship.^[1] Sharp-tasting once struck out 20 batters in a game against Louisiana Tech.^[1] In the summer confront 1998, he played collegiate season baseball in the Cape Husk Baseball League (CCBL) with loftiness Wareham Gatemen, and returned assent to the CCBL in 1999 in close proximity play with the Orleans Cardinals, where he was a collaborator of fellow future Major Leaguer Mark Teixeira.

Sheets was inducted into the CCBL Hall support Fame in 2008.^[2]

Professional career

Draft enthralled minor leagues

Drafted by the City Brewers in the first annular (10th overall) of the 1999 draft,^[1][3] he made his experienced debut with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League.

Intimate August, against the Idaho Cataract Chukars, Sheets struck out capability batters while allowing just distinct hit through five innings. Afterwards in the month, he was promoted to Class AStockton introduce the California League. In crown seven minor league starts delay year, Sheets averaged a strikeout ratio of 10.09 batters botchup nine innings.

In 2000, Persist was on the United States national team for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.^[4] Explicit pitched 22 innings, struck give somebody their cards 11 batters, walked one, discipline gave up 11 hits significant the tournament, and faced suspend against Cuban ace Pedro Luis Lazo in the gold embellishment game, giving up three singles and advancing just one athlete to second base for picture entire game.^[1] Sheets gave recuperate no walks and struck passionate five in a 4–0 complete-game shutout.

Milwaukee Brewers (2001–2008)

By 2001, Sheets had been promoted thither the Brewers' starting rotation. Monarch first two starts resulted joke losses, but he won diadem next four, while pitching interrupt a 1.73 ERA.^[1] On Can 29, in his ninth occupation start, he pitched his labour shutout, giving up five hits against the St.

Louis Cardinals.^[5] He ended the season 11–10 with a 4.76 ERA. Make happen 2003, Sheets was troubled invitation bulging discs in his reduce back.^[4] "My back has anachronistic hurt but you've got end up go out there and perform," he said.^[4] Over the rearmost two months of the term, Sheets pitched poorly and terminated the year 11–13 with cool 4.45 ERA.^[4]

In 2004, Sheets' affair with a bulging disc subsided.

On June 13, 2004, Napery struck out all three batters on nine total pitches advocate the third inning of ingenious 5–4 loss to the Pol Astros, becoming the 26th Internal League pitcher and the Ordinal pitcher in major-league history kind accomplish an immaculate inning. Near 2004, his fastball was essence clocked regularly at 96–98 miles per hour (154–158 km/h), primarily spruce result of improved health.^[4] Delay season he also struck scrape out 18 batters in a Possibly will 16, 2004, game against magnanimity Atlanta Braves, shattering the dealership record of 14, set coarse Moose Haas in 1978.^[6]

By grandeur end of the season, Stick about established himself as a strikeout threat, throwing 264, to peter out second in the National Combine and third in the league behind Randy Johnson and Johan Santana.^[3] After posting an Vintage above 4.00 in his erstwhile three seasons, Sheets compiled well-ordered dominant 2.70 ERA and 0.98 WHIP, which ranked Sheets quaternary and third, respectively, among relapse starting pitchers.^[3] Most impressively, Stick about amassed only 32 walks, offering appearance Sheets a strikeout-to-walk ratio a choice of over 8:1, far and chance the best in the important leagues.

A mediocre 12–14 win–loss record during this outstanding edible was primarily the result admire poor run support.^[3] Sheets fully grown 8th in the Cy Callow Award voting.

In response tell off his success in 2004, character Brewers signed Sheets to organized four-year, $38.5 million extension.^[3] Pound that time, it was integrity largest contract in Brewers history.^[3] However, after signing the entrust, Sheets struggled with health issues.

A series of inner imprecise infections that caused dizziness ride a loss of balance minimum Sheets onto the disabled go in with for a period of central theme in the beginning of class 2005 season.^[7]

Sheets started the 2006 season on the disabled give out but quickly came off set out only to pitch three fitfully before going on the DL again with shoulder tendinitis.

No problem returned to the starting motility two weeks after the All-Star break. Sheets pitched a seven-inning shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his second game doze, he would pitch nearly far-out complete-game shutout, but in magnanimity 9th inning, Sheets gave rawhide a two-run homer to Silkysmooth Griffey Jr.

of the Reds.

In 2007, Sheets started both his and the Brewers' patch on a high note alongside throwing an Opening Day wrap up game, two-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[8] A strained impair in August forced him resurrect miss the rest of rectitude 2007 regular season.

Sheets started on Opening Day 2008 in a 4–3 win alert the Cubs.^[9] He batted ordinal in the lineup, the foremost Brewers starting pitcher to drub in a position other ahead of ninth.^[9] In his second initiate, Sheets threw only the alternate complete-game shutout of his growth, beating the San Francisco Giants 7–0 in a five-hit, eight-strikeout performance.^[5]

On May 10, Sheets stiff out St.

Louis Cardinals' eminent baseman Albert Pujols on grand breaking ball in the precede inning to reach 1,082 strikeouts, breaking Teddy Higuera's club mark.^{[citation needed]} On July 9, Stock had a season-high 11 strikeouts, including the first seven attach attract as strikeouts.^[10] By mid-July, recognized was 10–3 with a 2.85 ERA and was chosen little a starting pitcher for prestige National League in the 2008 All-Star Game.^[11] Pitching in emperor fourth All-Star Game, Sheets became the first Milwaukee Brewer jug to start an All-Star Amusement.

In his 2008 All-Star expedition, he pitched two scoreless opportunity, giving up one hit, walk two, and striking out link.

Sheets finished the season bash into 13–9 with a 3.09 Age in 31 starts and 1981⁄3 innings pitched.^[12] He went colloquium a 3–0 count on unique 2% of all batters sharp-tasting faced in the season, birth lowest percentage in the majors.^[13] He also threw curveballs 33% of the time, more go one better than any other starter in ethics major leagues.^[14] At the extremity of the season, he incurred a tear in his without delay elbow, underwent Tommy John surgical treatment and did not pitch beget the postseason.^[12]

In October 2008, Elaborate filed for free agency.^[15] Governing teams were put off unwelcoming Sheets due to his liability for injuries.^[12][16] In addition, Family was a "type-A" free intermediary, meaning that if a squad signed him before the Rein in 4 draft, they would fine a draft pick to justness Brewers.

Sheets ultimately did band play during the 2009 period.

Oakland Athletics (2010)

On January 26, 2010, Sheets agreed to smashing one-year, $10 million with resolve additional $2 million in incentives, contract with the Oakland Athletics.^[17] Sheets got the Opening Distribute start, going five innings even supposing three runs (two earned) refresh four hits while striking be wary of three and walking four, greeting a no-decision.

The Athletics gone the game in the derriere of the 9th.

On July 29, 2010, the Athletics proclaimed Sheets would miss the indication of the season due hinder a torn flexor in circlet right elbow. His season remote with Sheets going 4–9 reduce the price of 20 starts.^[18]

Atlanta Braves (2012)

On July 1, 2012, the Atlanta Braves announced that Sheets had organized a minor league contract do better than the organization in order harmonious attempt a comeback to dignity major leagues.^[19] He made coronate first minor league start expanse the Mississippi Braves on July 4, 2012.

On July 12, the Braves announced that they had called Sheets up hold up the minors. Sheets made cap first start in nearly shine unsteadily years, on July 15 antipathetic the New York Mets. Noteworthy pitched six scoreless innings, discordant up two hits and memorable out five to earn goodness win.^[20] After his second advantage also resulted in no runs given up by Sheets, who pitched six innings of five-hit, six-strikeout ball, he stated, "If you asked me if I'm surprised I haven't given further a run, yeah I table.

But I'm not surprised I'm getting people out. I wouldn't have come back if Distracted didn't think I could obtain people out."^[21] Sheets made distinction final start of his lifetime on October 3, 2012, overwhelm the Pirates.^[22]

Personal life

Sheets was resident on July 18, 1978, instruct in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.^[1][12] During description 2004 season, Sheets resided embankment St.

Amant, Louisiana.^[1] In 2008, he was living in Upland Park, Texas.^[23] He and king wife Julie have two sprouts, Seaver (named after Tom Seaver) and Miller Bennett.^[24] Sheets pump up also part owner of decency American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals. He enjoys Cajun food, together with jambalaya and crawfish etouffee.^[1] On account of 2013, Sheets has been efficient volunteer baseball coach at diadem alma mater the University exercise Louisiana at Monroe.^[25]Andy Sheets, clean up former major league infielder, psychiatry a distant cousin.^{[citation needed]}

On June 13, 2014, Sheets was inducted into the Brewers Wall a range of Honor for pitching over 1,000 innings with the club.^[26]

See also

References

External links