Jake Shaffer - From NKU to Pulaski to ATY ? by Roger Redmon

[Chris Hook]

by Roger Redmon

For most young boys who grow up playing baseball, a professional playing career is just a dream that not many will attain. Only a select few get to live out that dream. As a youngster growing up in Athol, Mass., At the Yard Baseball Training Center staff member Jake Shaffer imagined himself roaming the spacious green grass in the outfield at Fenway Park in Boston, home of his beloved Red Sox. Eventually that may happen. But it could well be in the uniform of the visiting Seattle Mariners. The speedy 6-foot-1, 190-pound outfielder was selected by Seattle in the 15th round of this past June’s Major League Baseball draft of amateur players.

“Playing professional ball is something we all dream of and it’s still hard for me to believe sometimes that I’m getting this opportunity,” Shaffer said. “Now I’m at the level where everybody’s goal is to reach the major leagues so that’s another huge challenge. It’s very competitive and involves a lot of hard work but I’m excited about my future.”

There is no question about Shaffer’s credentials. A two-time all-Great Lakes Valley Conference performer at Northern Kentucky University, the left-handed hitter has flashed plenty of ability at the plate, on the base paths and as a defensive outfielder.

As a junior at NKU in 2008, Shaffer helped the Norse to a conference tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. After being named a pre-season DII All-American by Baseball America, Shaffer hit .331 in 49 games with five home runs, 39 runs batted in and 15 stolen bases while patrolling center field for coach Todd Asalon’s ball club.

Shortly after being drafted in June, Jake headed to Pulaski, Va., to begin his pro career with the Mariners’ rookie-league club in the Appalachian League.

“It was very competitive in rookie ball,” Shaffer said. “There was a good bit of schooling I had to go through and I learned a ton. Now my goal is to get on a full-season (minor league) team.”

Jake was a second-team all-GLVC choice as a sophomore in 2007 after transferring to NKU from NCAA Division I Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. Shaffer’s signing had been quite a coup for Winthrop coach Joe Hudak. Jake started three years on the varsity level at Athol High School. His batting averages for those three seasons were .463, .537, and .516, respectively. As if his offensive output wasn’t enough, Shaffer also posted a 14-2 record on the mound with 223 strikeouts in 118 innings. He was ranked as the number one prospect at the 2004 Perfect Game Northeast Top Prospect Showcase, and Baseball America ranked Jake 92nd in its Top 350 seniors. The honor roll student became only the second New Englander to play for Coach Hudak at Winthrop.

Shaffer was solid in his first collegiate season, producing a .281 batting average in 40 games with a .434 on-base percentage and six stolen bases in seven attempts for a team that went 46-18. After his freshman year it became clear to Jake that Winthrop was not for him and he also contemplated whether or not baseball was going to be a realistic part of his future. After Jake graduated from high school his father, who works in retail, was transferred from Massachusetts to the Northern Kentucky area. His dad’s transfer ironically led to Jake’s new collegiate destination.

“I had some injuries and some major surgeries and I didn’t know if I wanted to choose a new path or try something else,” Shaffer said. “I ended up going to NKU for my sophomore and junior years and that enabled me to keep playing baseball at a real quality program and everything worked out great.”

Being new to Northern Kentucky and new to the NKU baseball program, Jake credits his association with ATYBTC for helping him to become acclimated to his new surroundings. Numerous visits to ATYBTC also helped the multi-talented ballplayer find his swing and allowed him to rediscover his love for the game of baseball.

“I really developed with the help of a past instructor (at ATYBTC), Jamie Keefe (former Florence Freedom manager),” Shaffer said. “We clicked automatically with both of us being from the northeast (Keefe is from New Hampshire). We’re both Red Sox fans. He was great and actually everyone here was great to me.

“I really got to refine stuff and the facility was always available. If you’re not hitting in the wintertime you’re going to lose a lot of ground come spring. Having Jamie and the guys here to work with me and having a place to work on my skills was a blessing.”

Confident that NKU was where he was supposed to be and comfortable with his surroundings, Jake’s talent started to take over. In two seasons with the Norse, Shaffer combined to hit .340 in 101 games with seven home runs and 60 RBIs. His contentment also extended into the classroom, where Jake earned a spot on the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District second team as a junior.

Now Jake’s task is to get himself ready for spring training with the Mariners in February. Before he heads to Arizona Shaffer will spend a lot of time in the batting cage at ATY. Not only will Jake work on honing his own game, but he’ll also tutor young players from the Northern Kentucky area who have a desire to learn from someone who has reached a level they dream of reaching someday.

Still only 21 years old, Shaffer is coming off a solid showing in his pro debut at Pulaski. Jake hit .247 in 93 at-bats with four doubles, a triple, a homer and 10 stolen bases in 13 attempts. The Mariners have made it clear what they’d like Jake to work on and prepare for when he reports for his second professional season.

“The Mariners consider me right now more of a base-stealer,” Shaffer said. “I learned more about base running and base stealing when I got to pro ball than any other phase of the game. They want me to utilize my speed so they want me to try to bunt for a hit about once a game, and that’s been hard for me. I didn’t really bunt much in college.”

If Jake reaches his goal of being assigned to a full season Class A affiliate coming out of spring training, he could well find himself competing against a fellow ATYBTC staff member. Chris Hook will serve as pitching coach for the Milwaukee Brewers’ Class A Midwest League team, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Mariners also have a Midwest League team, the Clinton (Ia.) Lumberkings.

“We’ve already been talking about that,” Shaffer said. “That would be fun. Hopefully, I’ll get to take part in those meetings when Clinton faces Wisconsin.”