James Shields Biography

James Shields has made the journey from 16th-round pick to the starting rotation of the 2008 MLB World Series.

James Shields: The Prospect
Since James Shields first stepped onto the mound at California’s Hart High School, the whole of the West Coast was abuzz about the amazing right handed pitcher. James Shields did not have the attention-grabbing fastball to draw a crowd, but the pitcher was next to unhittable. In his junior year of high school, James Shields went 11-0 with a 2.35 ERA and was recognized as one of the No. 1 pitching prospects in the nation.

A scholarship from the LSU Tigers was offered to James Shields after his senior year of high school, but he decided to enter the 2000 MLB Draft instead. The lack of a 95–plus MPH fastball and other such measurables sent James Shields tumbling down the draft board. James Shields sat on the board round after round until the Tampa Bay Rays finally took the kid from California. Being taken in the 16th round was not part of his plan, but James Shields was a professional baseball player.

James Shields: Minors

Arriving in the minors in 2001, James Shields showed why he was such a devastating pitcher at the high school level. After racking up almost 30 strikeouts to just five walks, it was soon realized that the lack of pure pitching talent was not a problem. James Shields had a natural feel for the game of baseball, and the batters of the low-rung minors were no match for his magnificent changeup that kept opponents guessing. The 16th-round pick jumped up two minor organizations in the 2001 season and capped it off with a few perfect games.

Such a promising performance in the minors would have assured James Shields a spot on the struggling Tampa Bay Rays roster for sure but a serious shoulder injury required surgery, keeping James Shields on the shelf for an entire season. James Shields returned to the minors in 2003 and turned in another superb year as he recovered from the after effects of surgery. James Shields also continued to produce strikeouts at a record pace.

Injuries continued to plague James Shields through his time in the minors, but he still logged some complete games. It was obvious that James Shields had all the tools to be a great MLB pitcher; it was just staying healthy that was a concern. James Shields became the Double-A Pitcher of the Year in 2005 and continued piling up impressive numbers. Finally healthy and with a great log of minors accomplishments, James Shields was called up to the majors in 2006.

James Shields: Tampa Bay Devil Rays

The arrival of James Shields was a godsend to fans with Tampa Bay Rays tickets, and the MLB rookie lit the majors on fire. With second-year pitcher Scott Kazmir turning in an All-Star performance in 2006, the Tampa Bay Rays had the makings of an impressive pitching rotation. James Shields had little run support and had to make the adjustment to elite talent, so his first year in the MLB didn’t yield a great record. His ability to hoard strikeouts along with Scott Kazmir did give fans with Tampa Bay Rays tickets hope for the future.

The 2007 MLB season was a breakout year for James Shields. At first the lack of run support was infuriating and undid some great games. Eventually the young Tampa Bay Rays found their batting groove and James Shields rewarded them with 184 strikeouts and a 3.85 ERA. James Shields had defied the odds and had gone on from 16th-round pick to a great starting pitcher. The best was yet to come for James Shields, the Tampa Bay Rays, and fans with Tampa Bay Rays tickets.

James Shields: 2008 MLB Season
“Big Game James” Shields was the opening-day starter for the newly minted Tampa Bay Rays, and fans with Tampa Bay Rays tickets quickly grew to love the pitcher. Rookie 3B Evan Longoria proved to be the hitter that the Tampa Bay Rays were missing, and his clutch hits gave a ton of wins both to James Shields and Scott Kazmir. Two big shutout games against the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim solidified James Shields’ reputation as an ace.

Featuring a pitching rotation loaded with aces, Scott Kazmir and James Shields, the Tampa Bay Rays upset the entire MLB by cutting through the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The big bats of Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton made the most of the opportunities given, and the Tampa Bay Rays rolled into the MLB Postseason. James Shields headlined the first-round destruction of the favored Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays tickets to the ALCS were punched.

James Shields: ALCS
Fans celebrated the first playoff series win in Tampa Bay history but couldn’t go out and buy their Tampa Bay Rays World Series tickets just yet. The Boston Red Sox awaited the young team and it was speculated that the lack of experience would haunt them. James Shields faced Boston Red Sox aces Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka in two separate games and came up short both times. Being the tough team that they are, the Tampa Bay Rays rallied around James Shields and stepped up to defeat the Boston Red Sox in a close seven-game series.

James Shields: World Series
Fans with Tampa Bay Rays World Series tickets can take a great deal of comfort knowing that they have solid pitchers in James Shields, Matt Garza, Scot Kazmir, and David Price. The heavy hitters of the Tampa Bay Rays have really come on fire, and the young organization has set a MLB postseason record for homeruns. B.J. Upton in particular has been dynamite when his teammates have really needed him with nine homeruns in the postseason.

The underdog story of James Shields is shared by so many of his Tampa Bay Rays teammates and the team itself is an organization that no one gave credit to. Young, talented, but counted out, James Shields and the rest of the Tampa Bay Rays are ready to prove to the rest of the MLB that big names do not win big games. See this history making series when you order your Tampa Bay Rays World Series tickets from OnlineTickets.com today!