Dave Shotkoski

David Terrance Shotkoski

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 175 lb.
• School Kishwaukee College
• High School Barrington High School
• Born December 7, 1964 in Hoffman Estates, IL USA
• Died March 24, 1995 in West Palm Beach, FL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Dave Shotkoski played in the minor leagues from 1985 to 1989 and in 1991 and in Italy in 1990. The reliever, drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 1985 amateur draft, was the second pick ever out of Kishwaukee College. He went 18-24 with 16 saves and a 5.07 ERA in 122 games over the span of six seasons in the minors. He reached AAA.

He debuted in 1985 with the Pulaski Braves, tossing a shutout inning (1 hit, 1 walk) and winning his only game. He was 1-3 with a 7.18 ERA for the 1986 Idaho Falls Braves. He moved to the Oakland A's system after that year. In 1987, he pitched for the Medford A's (2-0, 1.93) and Modesto A's (1-4, Sv, 15.00, 22 BB, 29 H, 30 R in 18 IP). Perhaps his best year was 1988, when he went a combined 5-4 with 14 saves a 3.02 ERA in 42 games split between the Modesto A's (4-2, 10 Sv, 2.16) and Huntsville Stars (1-2, 4 Sv, 4.24). With Modesto, he had a lower ERA than future major leaguers Scott Chiamparino and Dave Veres; only Steve Maye had a lower ERA on the staff.

In 1989, he pitched for Huntsville (3-2, Sv, 2.84, second to Joe Klink among hurlers with 20+ appearances on the club) and the Tacoma Tigers (29 R, 34 H, 14 BB in 21 1/3 IP). With Parma in '90, he had a 5-3, 2.15 record. He allowed a .194/.263/.228 batting line and fanned 82 in 67 innings. In 1991, he was 5-11 with a 4.28 ERA for the Midland Angels in the California Angels chain. He tied Pedro Astacio for 5th in the Texas League in losses.

In March 1995, he was a replacement player for the Braves. While out for a daily walk during spring training, he was shot to death in a botched attempted robbery. Fellow replacement player Terry Blocker would help the police catch Neal Douglas Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 27 years in jail. Evans would only serve 17 years before being released.

Sources

• New York Times
• People magazine
• Italian Baseball and Softball Federation