San Diego's EJ Shanks Acquired by Milwaukee Brewers
January 31, 2007 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
San Diego Surf Dawgs News Release
(Pleasanton, CA. January 31, 2007) The Golden Baseball League is pleased to announce that pitcher EJ Shanks of the 2006 San Diego Surf Dawgs has been acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers and will be reporting to Spring Training in Peoria, Arizona.
Shanks, 24, is a big tall right-handed pitcher who had a breakout season with the Surf Dawgs last year as his conversion to a submarine pitcher under the tutelage of San Diego Pitching Coach Tim Blackwell (now set to manage in the Chicago White Sox farm system in 2007) led him to dominate GBL batters as a relief specialist. In 30 appearances last season he had a record of 6-1 with 3 saves and an E.R.A. of 1.78. in over 50 innings of work. Originally drafted in 2004 in the 29th round by the San Diego Padres, the Las Vegas native played in the Padres farm system for one year before being released and then split time with the independent Frontier and Northern Leagues, with limited success, before landing with the Surf Dawgs last year.
"Shanks is a great example of what independent professional baseball can do for a player's career" said Kevin Outcalt, GBL Commissioner. "Given up on by three teams, his determination and strong coaching in San Diego gave him the opportunity to re-invent himself and develop new skills that now have him back in a major league organization. We are thrilled at his success and look forward to watching his progress with the Brewers."
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Golden Baseball League Stories from January 31, 2007
- San Diego's EJ Shanks Acquired by Milwaukee Brewers - San Diego Surf Dawgs
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