John Shelby III interview...

[JPN366]

Thought I'd post this for anybody who hasn't read it. Can't wait to meet him!

 

Batting Around with John Shelby III

 

[scenario]

Batting around with John Shelby III.

 

By Lisa Winston / MLB.com

 

It's taken a little time, but Chicago White Sox prospect John Shelby III is finally getting used to being referred to as "outfielder John Shelby III."

 

The White Sox's fifth-round pick in 2006 out of the University of Kentucky, Shelby was a standout middle infielder who has moved from second base to the outfield, back to second base and back to the outfield again -- where he's been full time since last season.

 

But as long as he keeps hitting the way he has the last two seasons, there is little doubt that his travel itinerary will keep moving him up.

 

Named MLB.com's White Sox Minor League Player of the Year after he hit .295 with 15 homers, 80 RBIs and a system-high 33 steals at Advanced A Winston-Salem last summer, Shelby finished second in the organization in RBIs, fifth in homers and eighth in batting. He also tied a Carolina League record with a three-homer game.

 

That hot summer was not far removed from the numbers he put up in his first full season (2007). With the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators, Shelby hit .301 with 16 homers, 79 RBIs and 19 steals, while posting a 22-game hitting streak midseason.

 

Likely bound for Double-A Birmingham when camp breaks next month, it might not appear at first glance like he has that much to work on offensively, but the 23-year-old has very definite goals to improve his game even more.

 

"Right now, I'm working on trying to hit the ball the other way," said Shelby. "Pulling the ball is how I end up striking out a lot, I get beat on a lot of sliders I try to pull."

 

And, of course, he's hoping to further improve his play in the outfield.

 

"Just looking ahead of me in the organization, there are a lot of good infielders in front of me," he said. "The outfield picture isn't wide open but I think there is a clearer shot to make it there, especially a guy like me. I think I bring something different to the table, a little power, I can steal some bags, whatever they want me to do."

 

If it sounds like he has a good grasp on the game and what it takes to get to the next level. That shouldn't be surprising, seeing as how his dad, John "T-Bone" Shelby Jr., was a big leaguer who currently is a coach with the Baltimore Orioles.

 

The running joke in the family has long been that John III was following in his dad's "cleatsteps" even before he could walk, turning whatever he held in his little hand into a ball.

 

"Ever since I was born I always had a glove or bat in my hand," he said. "I hated toys. I just liked to throw things."

 

The oldest of six children (five boys and a girl), he talks to his dad pretty much every day, but there are actually more members of the immediate Shelby family that serve as inspiration to John III, who is nicknamed "Treybone."

 

But ask him who he would trade places with for one day and he doesn't hesitate -- his 21-year-old brother, Jeremy.

 

Jeremy, two years younger than John, is a red-shirt senior on the baseball team at Grambling State, but he's overcome more than just a few position shifts.

 

"He's my 'little big' brother, and he overcame Hodgkins Disease in high school and it never fazed him," Shelby said. "He got through it like it was nothing, and he really inspired me to be stronger as the oldest brother."

 

Jeremy is healthy and happy and continuing to be an inspiration to friends and family, dabbling on the side in singing Christian rap, among other things.

 

"He's doing fine now, totally clean, nothing bothering him," said Shelby. "He walks the walk and he talks the talk."

 

MLB: Of what accomplishment, on or off the field, in your life are you the proudest?

 

John Shelby: A few things. Definitely getting engaged last year. Also, I love how my brothers look up to me. Having their respect so I know it's not about me, it's about my paving the way for them. And as far as baseball, in college I only hit .291 as a junior so being able to bat over .300 in pro ball is a nice accomplishment.

 

MLB: What do you think you'd be doing now if you weren't playing baseball?

 

JS: I don't even want to think about it (laughs). But I'm very involved in our church. I think I would finish up school and get married. What else can I do but play baseball?

 

MLB: Everyone has a "hidden talent." What's yours?

 

JS: Everyone else in my family has a hidden talent, they can draw or sing, but I don't have one. My hidden talent, I guess, is making people laugh. I have a dry sense of humor.

 

MLB: What is the worst job you've ever had?

 

JS: I haven't had a lot of jobs, but this offseason I got a job as a security guard for Kentucky basketball games. I thought I'd get to see the games, to peek in and watch them, but I couldn't.

 

MLB: What is your guiltiest TV pleasure?

 

JS: The only thing I watch is "King of Queens." I love that show. It always seems to relate to me. Other than that, I always have ESPN on but I'm not a big TV guy.

 

MLB: Which aspect of life in the Minors do you find to be the biggest challenge and why?

 

JS: Being away from family is the toughest thing. The baseball part isn't tough, it's what we love to do. But if you're in a slump, you want someone to be there and give you a hug and you only have the phone.

 

MLB: If you were commissioner for a day, which one rule would you change?

 

JS: They should have blood tests for steroids. You can't fake blood. And there should be more off days.

[SouthsideDon48]

I really like John Shelby's potential. He's the 5-tool type of player the White Sox really needs, and I really hope the Sox doesn't end up trading him away.

 

If he stays in the White Sox system, how far away is he from making it to the major league club? 2011? 2012?

 

It would be pretty neat having an outfield of Shelby/Jor.Danks/Quentin, and for the first time ever, I'm actually pretty excited about players in the White Sox systen because of players like Allen, Viciedo, Beckham, Link, Nunez, Marquez in addition to Jor.Danks and Shelby. Plus the fact that we already got guys like Quentin, Fields, Getz, Floyd, and John Danks on the main roster. It really is an exciting time to watch prospects in the system.

 

Thanks for posting the article, OP, it was a good read and it made me more excited about one of the slightly-forgotten men in the Sox system.

[BearSox]

Sounds like a really nice and intelligent guy. He likes the King of Queens, which is a big plus in my book, and he talks about how we should have blood tests to keep baseball clean.

[scenario]

Here's another version of the article from Winston's blog, 'Got MiLB?'

 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE ... GETTING TO KNOW WHITE SOX OF JOHN "TREYBONE" SHELBY III

 

The difference between the two articles is the intro below and a different picture of Shelby.

 

 

 

I know there are a lot of people who envy me my job because I "get to meet a lot of baseball players." And, of course, that's true, I do.

 

But the really best thing about my job? Getting to meet some amazing, awesome and, most important, incredibly nice people who also happen to be baseball players.

 

And Chicago White Sox outfield prospect John Shelby III, aka "Treybone," unquestionably ranks among the top guys on that list.

 

Admittedly, it's taken "Trey" a little time to get used to that "outfielder" moniker. Since being drafted out of Kentucky in the fifth round of 2006 he's gone from second base to outfield to second base back to outfield again, where he's been learning the ropes full-time since the 2008 season at Winston-Salem.

 

But as long as he keeps hitting the way he has the last two seasons, there is little doubt that his travel itinerary will see him keep moving up.

[Chisoxfn]

I watched Shelby take BP last week and he had a lot of pop. I love this guy as a prospect. I wouldn't call him an A prospect, but I'd call him a guy that could come up and shock a lot of people given that I think most of the baseball world doesn't know who he is (ie, he's not a top 25 or top 50 prospect currently).

[JPN366]

I watched Shelby take BP last week and he had a lot of pop. I love this guy as a prospect. I wouldn't call him an A prospect, but I'd call him a guy that could come up and shock a lot of people given that I think most of the baseball world doesn't know who he is (ie, he's not a top 25 or top 50 prospect currently).

 

He is a top 25 for the White Sox though, but I know what you mean. I've been a fan of his since he was at Kentucky, so I was psyched when the White Sox drafted him. Can't wait to see him play for the Barons.

[Chisoxfn]

He is a top 25 for the White Sox though, but I know what you mean. I've been a fan of his since he was at Kentucky, so I was psyched when the White Sox drafted him. Can't wait to see him play for the Barons.

He's far more than top 25 on the Sox. I have him just below Danks and that is because I love Danks tools more than practically anyone in the organization. I'm not as high on Poreda as most are, however, I think Poreda projects very nicely in the pen and his upside is as a closer, not a starter. However, if his sinker is truly dominant he might be able to make it as a starter.

 

Right now I have the Sox top five as:

Gordon Beckham

Dayan Viciedo

Tyler Flowers

Jordan Danks

Aaron Poreda

 

I did not include Clayton Richard or Chris Getz since they are opening the season on the major league roster. Next on my list would be John Shelby followed by Brandon Allen and Hudson. I actually think the Sox need to focus heavily on improving there pitching prospects as there are very few starting prospects I like. I saw Hudson pitch though and I f***ing love him.

[Balta1701]

I did not include Clayton Richard or Chris Getz since they are opening the season on the major league roster. Next on my list would be John Shelby followed by Brandon Allen and Hudson. I actually think the Sox need to focus heavily on improving there pitching prospects as there are very few starting prospects I like. I saw Hudson pitch though and I f***ing love him.

Marquez doesn't register?

[danman31]

Marquez doesn't register?

For me, I don't see why anyone thinks Marquez can pitch in the Majors. Nothing in his track record stands out. He has good control, but a mediocre K rate. If the Sox are lucky, he turns into a 5th starter. That's his upside.

[caulfield12]

He's far more than top 25 on the Sox. I have him just below Danks and that is because I love Danks tools more than practically anyone in the organization. I'm not as high on Poreda as most are, however, I think Poreda projects very nicely in the pen and his upside is as a closer, not a starter. However, if his sinker is truly dominant he might be able to make it as a starter.

 

Right now I have the Sox top five as:

Gordon Beckham

Dayan Viciedo

Tyler Flowers

Jordan Danks

Aaron Poreda

 

I did not include Clayton Richard or Chris Getz since they are opening the season on the major league roster. Next on my list would be John Shelby followed by Brandon Allen and Hudson. I actually think the Sox need to focus heavily on improving there pitching prospects as there are very few starting prospects I like. I saw Hudson pitch though and I f***ing love him.

 

Are you sure Allen should be so low? From the times I saw him in ST, I liked him a LOT more than Flowers in terms of his approach, and that's not even taking into consideration Flowers' defensive deficiencies currently as a catcher. Plus, Brandon's left-handed, and we don't have any other significant power-hitting prospects other than him on the horizon.

 

I think Jordan Danks really is going to need to prove a lot more b4 you can put him at #4, same thing with Flowers, who has had one really good "A" season followed up by an impressive AFL performance. To me, it looks like he needs to get on a strength and conditioning program and gain another 10-15 pounds of muscle. Then again, Alexei, you could say the same thing about him...and yet the ball just jumps off his bat even if he only weighs 155-165 pounds.

 

Poreda is undervalued unless his highest upside is as a reliever.

 

[Chisoxfn]

Marquez doesn't register?

Nope, I'm not impressed with Marquez at all. His upside is as a fifth starter, other guys on that list have higher upside.

[Chisoxfn]

Are you sure Allen should be so low? From the times I saw him in ST, I liked him a LOT more than Flowers in terms of his approach, and that's not even taking into consideration Flowers' defensive deficiencies currently as a catcher. Plus, Brandon's left-handed, and we don't have any other significant power-hitting prospects other than him on the horizon.

 

I think Jordan Danks really is going to need to prove a lot more b4 you can put him at #4, same thing with Flowers, who has had one really good "A" season followed up by an impressive AFL performance. To me, it looks like he needs to get on a strength and conditioning program and gain another 10-15 pounds of muscle. Then again, Alexei, you could say the same thing about him...and yet the ball just jumps off his bat even if he only weighs 155-165 pounds.

 

Poreda is undervalued unless his highest upside is as a reliever.

Danks has great tools across the board with the only questionable one being power potential and I've heard some scouts and read some articles talking about how he's turning on inside pitches now and driving the ball with much more authority. I believe his power will come (20hr type pop). I believe I said that I see Poreda has nothing more than a reliever and give him a very small chance at making it as an upper end starter which is why I believe his best value is as a premiere reliever as opposed to a back of the rotation starter. I like Allen a lot but Flowers is at a position that is hard to fill and because of that he gets bumped up a bit. Allen is at first so he'll have to rake and rake and rake (he's done it to an extent and has the tools but he has a lot more to prove cause it isn't easy to be able to hit like a 1st baseman, imo).