Jake Shaffer

Jacob Peter Shaffer

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 186 lb.

• School Northern Kentucky University, Winthrop University
• High School Athol High School

• Born August 16, 1987 in Bitburg, Rhineland-Palatinate West Germany

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Jake Shaffer has played as high as AA (through 2012).

Shaffer was picked by the Seattle Mariners in the 15th round of the 2008 amateur draft, one selection after Casey Coleman. He was scouted by Brian Williams. Jake made his pro debut with the Pulaski Mariners. Backing up Dwight Britton in center field, he hit .247/.314/.344 and stole 10 bases in 13 tries. In 2009, he was the main left fielder for the Clinton Lumber Kings. He fielded .992 and batted .285/.318/.420 with 23 doubles.

Jake excelled in 2010, spent mostly with the High Desert Mavericks (.338/.387/.517, 31 2B, 6 3B, 78 RBI) with three games for the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (2 for 8, 2 BB). He was second in the Mariners chain in average, .009 behind High Desert teammate Kyle Seager. He was also second in the California League in average behind Seager. He tied Vince Belnome, Brandon Barnes and Luis Jimenez for 8th in the league in doubles as well.

In 2011, Shaffer was with the Jackson Generals and hit .287/.333/.443 with 7 triples. He was 6th in the Southern League in three-baggers, tied for first in the Mariners chain. Let go by Seattle, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. During 2012, he hit .262/.316/.373 for the Springfield Cardinals.

The German-born outfielder then joined the German national team for the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. He was 2 for 7 with a double, run and 3 RBI, appearing in all four of Germany's games. In their 16-1 opening win over the Czech Republic, he pinch-hit for Toby Gardenhire in the 6th. Facing Radim Chroust, he singled home Max Boldt. In a 16-7 loss to Team Canada, he started in left field, hitting 6th. He doubled against James Avery in the second and scored on an Eric Suttle single. He grounded in Donald Lutz in the third, facing Avery, and fanned against Sheldon McDonald in the 5th before Aaron Altherr replaced him. In a 16-1 win over Great Britain, he started at DH, again batting 6th. He hit a sacrifice fly off Greg Hendrix to score Max Kepler in the first, then drew a walk to chase Hendrix in the 3rd. In the 5th, he lined out against Daniel Cooper. Boldt later pinch-hit for him. In the 11-1 loss to Canada in the finale, he again was the DH and #6 batter. He went 0 for 2 against Andrew Albers before again being replaced by Boldt.

Sources

• World Baseball Classic
• 2012 Mariners Media Guide