Miami Marlins Season Review: JB Shuck

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 88 of 286. Stay tuned.

Jack Burdett Shuck III is a 5’11”, 185 lb. lefty batting and throwing outfielder from Galion, Ohio. A three-year starter for the University of Ohio, he slashed .343/.405/.409  in 138 Division I contests. He also stole 34-of-40 bases, and drew 51 walks while only striking out 24 times in 547 plate appearances. In 2008, he was chosen in the sixth round of the draft by the Houston Astros, with the 182nd overall choice.

Players chosen 182nd overall have a 20 percent chance of making it to the major leagues. The most prolific of them are Pat Neshek (2002, Minnesota Twins, 10.9 career WAR), and Jonathan Holder (2014, New York Yankees, 1.5 WAR).

After signing with the Astros for a $150,000 bonus, Shuck worked his way up through Houston’s minor league system before making his major league debut in 2011. In 37 games for the Astros, he slashed .272/.359/.321. In 2012, he remained in the organization at the triple-A level, with the Pacific Coast League’s Oklahoma City RedHawks. After declaring free agency following the season, he signed on with the Los Angeles Angels.

Shuck had his best major league season for the Angels in 2013, slashing .293/.331/.366 and finishing fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year vote. After the 2014 trading deadline, the Cleveland Indians bought his contract from the Angels. Later, he also played for the Chicago White Sox before spending 2017 with the Minnesota Twins triple-A International League team, the Rochester Red Wings.

Shuck signed a contract with the Miami Marlins through free agency on November 24th. After going 16-for-44 in Spring Training, he started the year with the New Orleans Baby Cakes in the PCL. Over his first six games, he went four-for-21 with two RBI. On April 13th, he was called up to the Marlins.

In Shuck’s first game, he went four-for-four with a triple and two runs scored, as the Marlins defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-2. It was the first four-hit game of Shuck’s career. He had another on June 14th, going four-for-seven with two doubles and a run scored in a 6-3, 16-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants.

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Shuck played in 70 of Miami’s first 88 games of the 2018 season. He put down a .192/.255/.231 slashline with four RBI and 10 runs scored. He was outrighted back to the Baby Cakes in early July. From July 25th through August 7th, he went 23-for-43 with eight walks over a 12 game span, winning the PCL Player of the Week Award.

In 51 games for the Baby Cakes, Shuck slashed .327/.405/.461 with three home runs and 16 RBI, stealing 11 bases in 12 tries. After the close of the season, he elected free agency.

Shuck is now free to pursue employment with any major league organization. Someone is always in the market for a speedy four-A outfielder, so he should end up gainfully employed before too long.

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