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White Sox claim former Kettleer Shuck off waivers from Indians

J.B. Shuck (Cotuit, 2007) / photo courtesy of Major League Baseball
11/04/2014 4:55 PM

Article By: CCBL Public Relations Office

      Outfielder J.B. Shuck (Cotuit, 2007), whom the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim traded to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations in September, has now been claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox.

 
     Shuck received Rookie of the Year consideration in 2013 after spending the entire season with the Angels, hitting .293/.331/.366 with two home runs, 39 RBIs, eight stolen bases and a .697 OPS in 129 games. This season, it was a different story for the 27-year old native of Galion, Ohio, who appeared in only 22 games with the Halos, hitting .167 (14 for 84) with two homers and nine RBIs.
    
     Shuck spent most of the summer at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he batted .320/5/57 in 102 games.
 
     The Ohio State product could be a decent bench player for the White Sox, but his lack of power figures to keep him from winning a starting job.
 
     Manager Terry Francona was pleased when the Indians acquired Shuck on Sept. 5. “He's a kid whose speed can help us win a game,” Francona said. “It may seem like a peculiar time to add a guy but when you can, and you think it's a guy that can stay in the organization, it gives us a chance to look at him and hopefully win games and then move forward.”
 
     A sixth-round pick out of Ohio State by Houston in 2008, he made his MLB debut with the Astros on Aug. 5, 2011, at age 24. But he was back in the minors in 2012, spending the entire season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he hit .298/.374/.352 but failed to hit a home run and had just 33 RBIs in 115 games.
 
     Houston cut him loose Nov. 3, 2012, and he signed as a free agent with the Angels 12 days later.
 
     Shuck was a pitcher-outfielder in the Cape League, where he compiled a 3-2 record and a 3.30 ERA as a member of Cotuit’s starting rotation. In eight games, all as a starter, he struck out 38 batters and walked 20 over 43 2/3 innings. But he struggled at the plate, producing just three hits in 35 at-bats (.086).