Oct. 21, 2008

Story courtesy of Rory Miller, Golden Baseball League

CHICO, Calif. – Ben Shockey’s first year of pro ball was a memorable one, to be sure – not only did he stabilize an inconsistent Chico Outlaws bullpen but also put up some of the best numbers of any reliever in the Golden Baseball League.  Shockey’s efforts were rewarded October 19th when he was officially named the league’s 2008 Rookie Pitcher of the Year.

Shockey, a Flordia native, made 25 relief appearances for Chico last season, going 3-1 with one save and a miniscule 1.40 earned run average, striking out 37 batters in just under 39 innings.  Ben joined the Outlaws in early July after finishing a successful college career at Warner Southern, an NAIA school in Lake Wales, Florida, and immediately helped shore up Chico’s shaky relief corps.  Ben gave up two earned runs in his pro debut July 3rd against Reno, but allowed just four earned runs the rest of the season. 

Among Shockey’s 2008 highlights: striking out six Edmonton Cracker Cats in a two inning relief appearance July 22nd and posting the first win of his pro career August 13th against the St. George Roadrunners.  Ironically, one of Ben’s strongest single-game performances resulted in his only setback of the year – Shockey allowed just one unearned run in a five inning relief stint August 16th against Yuma, but was saddled with the loss in an 8-7 Scorpions win.

Ben was nearly unhittable during the final five weeks of the season.  In his last 17 appearances, Shockey posted a pair of victories while allowed just one earned run in just over 29 innings of work (a near-perfect 0.31 ERA) while opposing batters hit a combined .184 against him. 

Shockey edged out Edmonton Cracker Cats starter Chris Cullen for the honor and as a result becomes the second Outlaw to be named the GBL’s Rookie Pitcher of the Year – right-hander Phil Springman won the award in 2006.