T-Rat Talk: TJ Shook

In many ways, a lot has changed for Timber Rattlers pitcher TJ Shook over the last two years. In others, however, a lot remains the same.

Shook was six appearances into his junior season at the University of South Carolina when the season ended abruptly and halted his last opportunity to impress scouts heading into the 2020 MLB Draft. The draft was eventually shortened to just five rounds and Shook, who was expecting to go somewhere between the seventh and twelfth round in a normal year, instead went unselected.

“There’s definitely some motivation behind it. I try to keep that as my number one factor for motivation,” Shook said.

Congrats to @tj_shook, who signed a free-agent deal today with the @Brewers!!#Gamecocks | #ForeverToThee pic.twitter.com/LQtNc0rWPT

— Gamecock Baseball (@GamecockBasebll) June 14, 2020

Shook, a lifelong South Carolinian, signed with the Brewers and got to start his professional career close to home as his first regular season game was with the Carolina Mudcats in Zebulon, North Carolina. In his professional debut he was joined by a familiar face: Infielder Noah Campbell, Shook’s former teammate in college, was the starting first baseman in Shook’s first game with the Mudcats. The Brewers have since added two more players to the organization who played with Shook in college, drafting pitcher Brannon Jordan in the ninth round and 2022 Timber Rattlers catcher Wes Clarke in the tenth round in 2021.

Shook said he never expected so many of his teammates with the Gamecocks to follow him into the same professional organization.

“I thought maybe one guy, just anybody, but I did not expect four guys. It’s been fun. We’ve brought some of that same energy here. Wes has been catching me, so we’ve had that same duo for a couple of years now, it’s been fun,” Shook said.

Clarke has been behind the plate for three of Shook’s first four appearances with the Rattlers in 2022, and was at first base for the other one.

“It’s been nice because he knows how I am, he knows my tendencies, he knows my pitches, and he knows when to call them in the right spots,” Shook said. “So it’s been a help, for sure.”

The duo of Shook and Clarke has experienced immediate success with the Rattlers in 2022. Shook pitched 14 innings across three outings with Wisconsin before allowing his first earned run, and recorded 23 strikeouts in his first 15 2/3 innings. In so doing he very nearly joined some elite company: The last five Timber Rattlers pitchers to go three or more consecutive starts without allowing an earned run have all gone on to pitch in the majors:

Miguel Diaz, who did it with the Rattlers in June of 2016, was in the majors the very next season as a Rule 5 pick with the Padres in 2017.

Marcos Diplán, who did it across four starts in April and May of 2016, has pitched in the big leagues with the Orioles in 2021 and 2022.

Drew Gagnon worked 19 1/3 scoreless innings across three April appearances with the 2012 Rattlers before going on to play in the majors with the Mets.

Tyler Thornburg matched the feat across 18 innings in May of 2011, and was in the majors for the first time with the Brewers by the end of the following season.

Michael Pineda did it in April and May of 2008, and has since started games in each of his nine seasons in the majors with the Mariners, Yankees, Twins and Tigers.

For his part, Shook said the key to his success has been the work that happens before games.

“I take a lot of pride in preparation. I try to do everything I can to be as prepared before I step on the mound, and then when I do I just attack and keep a good mindset. I take a lot of pride in preparation, making sure my body’s feeling good, making sure I know what the lineup is, and just attack hitters,” Shook said.

Shook started just nine of his 41 games pitched in college, but noted that the move to pitching in a starting rotation full time has helped his development.

“In college when I did start those games it was kind of a weird situation,” Shook said. “We had ten active pitchers, maybe eleven, so we kind of needed all hands on deck. So I would be in the bullpen on Friday and Saturday, and if I didn’t throw those two days I would start on Sunday. So it was a little uncomfortable in college for me because I didn’t really get into the role. I was kind of in a bullpen mindset, and then ended up starting. I didn’t know fully what I was doing yet. But I think since transitioning to a full-time starter, it’s really given me a chance to learn from other starters and also the routine around it. It’s a full five-day, maybe a six-day routine. I’ve fully sunk into the role, and that’s something I didn’t have in college.”

TJ Shook continues to shove, and is currently your Midwest League strikeout leader with 23 Ks.

For the season: 15.2 IP, 23 K, 5 H, 1 ER pic.twitter.com/ThowCtN5IS

— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) April 22, 2022

After pitching intermittently and in a variety of roles in college, Shook came into professional baseball having logged just 72 1/3 innings across the last three seasons. He quickly found success with Carolina, but also missed two months recovering and building back up after a bout of elbow inflammation. He eventually earned a promotion to Wisconsin, where he made his final five starts of the 2021 season. Those five starts were his longest stint on any team’s roster that year.

“As soon as I made it back to Low-A I kind of got in a groove and was sent up to High A, so I was blessed to be put in that spot and get the opportunity to move up toward the end,” Shook said.

Shook is one of 18 players to appear in a game for the Timber Rattlers this season who were also members of the 2021 Carolina Mudcats. Shook said the relationships he’s built with his teammates are one of his biggest points of pride from his career to date.

“I love talking to other guys and building relationships with them, and also learning the game more from other perspectives. I’ve gotten close to a lot of my teammates, this is our second year together and a lot of the Mudcats moved up to Appleton last year, so we’ve had about two years together now and we’re getting really close, building some good relationships. It’s almost like we’re brothers. I think that’s a good part of it,” Shook said.

Timber Rattlers manager Joe Ayrault was also with Shook in Carolina last season, and complimented him on his growth as a professional.

“He’s come a long a way from when he first came in with Carolina,” Ayrault told the Rattler Radio Podcast following Shook’s outing on April 21. “We used to have to bust his chops quite a bit for little things, ‘feel’ stuff, that he would do. But it’s funny hearing him now, as far as the new guys and first year pro guys, he’s taking over with the stuff that he learned, he’s taking over as one of those guys. So just being a pro on and off the field he’s come a long way, and it’s good to see him dealing.”

On the day of that conversation Shook had just snapped his season-opening 14-inning streak without allowing an earned run. When asked if he’s ever seen a pitcher open a season with this much success, Ayrault reached for a name that’s high praise for a Brewers farmhand: He managed Brandon Woodruff during the stretch where he posted a 1.83 ERA across eight starts for Brevard County in 2016.

For his part, Shook complimented Ayrault for his energy and his ability to keep his players relaxed.

“He’s one of the best managers I’ve ever had, coaches I’ve ever had, he’s just so laid back and keeps a good energy. I love playing for him,” Shook said of Ayrault.