Justus

Sheffield

Sheffield was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball just a few years ago, but has completely fallen off the map. The 28-year-old former first-round pick hasn’t appeared in the majors since the 2022 campaign and split last year between the Mariners and Braves at the Triple-A level, posting a bloated 7.63 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 60/46 K/BB ratio across 63 2/3 innings (24 appearances, 12 starts). He represents a relatively low-risk reclamation project for Cincinanti’s player development engine.

Sheffield represents an intriguing reclamation project for the Braves after being released by the Mariners last month. The 26-year-old former top prospect’s star has faded considerably over the last few years after being the centerpiece of the James Paxton trade with the Yankees back in 2018. He’s compiled an underwhelming 5.47 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 155/90 K/BB ratio across 186 innings (48 appearances, 33 start) in the majors dating back to 2019.

It’s the end of an era. Sheffield was the centerpiece of the James Paxton trade with the Yankees back in 2018 and wound up making just 48 appearances (33 starts) for the Mariners over four years. The 26-year-old lefty holds a lackluster 5.47 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 155/90 K/BB ratio across 186 innings since 2019.

Sheffield, who was bumped from the Mariners’ 40-man roster in January, was given just one appearance this spring, allowing one run in an inning.

Sheffield was designated for assignment a week ago, but he passed through waivers unclaimed and will go into spring training as a non-roster player. The 26-year-old spent most of last season in Triple-A (with a rough 6.99 ERA in 24 starts) and made six appearances (including one start) in the majors. He’s upper-level depth at this point.

The Mariners’ decision to jettison Sheffield from their 40-man roster comes as a bit of a surprise given his prospect pedigree, but he’s been surpassed by several other young pitchers recently, and doesn’t have a role at the highest level. The 26-year-old left-hander should attract plenty of interest on waivers. He made just six appearances (one starts) last year in the majors for Seattle and holds a lackluster 5.47 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 155/90 K/BB ratio across 186 innings (48 appearances, 33 starts) in the big leagues since 2018.

Not the best of times in terms of numbers for Sheffield, though he still came away with the end win. The big blow on his line came when he coughed up a grand slam to Kody Clemens in the top of the fifth inning. That granny erased what had been a 4-1 lead for the Mariners, though the team did ultimately come back to win. Prior to Tuesday’s letdown, Sheffield had yet to give up a run in five appearances with the MLB club this season.

Sheffield appears likely to take the ball at some point during the second game of Tuesday’s twin bill against the Tigers in Seattle. The 26-year-old southpaw has tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings over five relief appearances this season at the major-league level.

Sheffield has made four relief appearances this season at the big-league level and figures to take the ball for the second game of Saturday’s twin bill against Los Angeles. The 26-year-old lefty has struggled this season at Triple-A Tacoma, posting an 8.51 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 34/15 K/BB ratio across 30 2/3 innings (eight starts).

The 25-year-old southpaw did a terrific job out of the Mariners bullpen -- hurling 4 2/3 scoreless innings while posting a 0.64 WHIP and 2/2 K/BB ratio. This seems like it was the plan all along though, to carry him while they could before sending him to Triple-A to work as a starting pitcher. He should get another opportunity with the big league club before long.