Former Devil Shuman drafted by Brewers

June 13, 2006

TIFTON— Former Tift County Blue Devil Scott Shuman was drafted Wednesday by the Milwaukee Brewers in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.
Shuman, the ace pitcher for a Devil squad that earned a spot in the Sweet 16 of the Class-AAAAA state playoffs, was drafted in the 23rd round by the Brewers. During the regular season, he was 8-2 with three saves, a 1.72 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 65 innings. He also batted .318 with seven homers and 29 RBIs.
“It’s a good honor,” Shuman said Thursday. “They called me yesterday about an hour after they (drafted him). It was pretty cool.”
He was drafted by the Brewers based on his strong pitching arm. Shuman throws a fastball that has been clocked at 94 miles per hour. He also throws a slider, a sidearm fastball and a changeup.
“I thank God for this happening and everything that’s happened,” Shuman said. “He’s the reason all this happened.”
The recent graduate has not decided if he will sign with the Brewers but knows that he will continue his baseball career. He will visit Auburn University Monday and is considering an athletic scholarship with the school.
“If they offer me a scholarship, I’ll be an Auburn Tiger,” he said.
He is also considering signing with junior colleges in Santa Fe, N.M. and Pensacola, Fla. He said that according to the Brewers, he can still attend junior college and they will own the rights to him. He said that hopefully, he can go even higher in a future draft.
Shuman also went higher in this year’s draft. The Los Angeles Angels were interested in the pitcher and wanted to draft him in the ninth round. However, they wanted him to sign immediately while the Brewers seemed to encourage him to attend junior college. Shuman elected to keep his options open instead of taking the money.
A two-sport star, Shuman started at quarterback for the Blue Devil football team which also made the playoffs. However, he said that his dream is to play baseball in the majors, and even if he attends a college like Auburn, he will concentrate on baseball.
“I’m strictly baseball now,” he said. “I’m not 6-5 and I don’t throw (a football) 75 yards.”

Dusty Vassey
cnhi, inc