Redding's Shamburg patiently waits for a shot at the majors Ken Shamburg Minor league statistics Year Team Avg. HR RBI 1989 Frederick (A) .254 40 1990 Frederick (A) .321 7 54 Hagerstown (AA) .276 2 42 Rochester (AAA) .333 0 0 1991 Hagerstown (AA) .275 12 84 Rochester (AAA) .150 0 3 said Shamburg, whose slump worsened. After collecting four hits in his first nine at-bats with Rochester, Shamburg went 2-for-31 and was returned to Hagerstown with a .150 Triple-A batting average cluttering his otherwise impressive resume. "It's depressing," Shamburg said. "You start feeling maybe you aren't good enough to play there. with 12 home runs and 84 RBI. He hit six of those homers in the final two weeks of the season for the Suns, who were eliminated in the first round of the Eastern League playoffs. "I was kind of off and on," Shamburg said. "I never felt real good for a real long time until the last two weeks of the season." Still, Shamburg earned a July promotion to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. His timing couldn't have been worse. Just a few days before the promotion, Shamburg, an off-field gap hitter, took a batting lesson from Orioles coach Don Buford, who gave Shamburg some tips on using his hips to pull the ball with power. However, when Shamburg reached Rochester, Red Wings manager Greg Biagini wanted him to keep hitting the ball to right-center. The results were disastrous. Shamburg struggled and soon found himself mired in a deep slump. "He (Biagini) told me the next time I swing at a first pitch it would cost me a hundred bucks," When Ken Shamburg slumped at Rochester, the Red Wings manager threatened to fine him $100 every time Shamburg swung at a first pitch. By Roger Weigel R-S sports reporter In his first big-time college atbat, Ken Shamburg hit a home run. In his first professional at-bat. Shamburg hit a home run. In his first major-league at-bat, Shamburg. ... He's yet to get his first majorleague at-bat, but when he makes the majors, and he believes there will be a when, Shamburg wouldn't mind extending his debut homer streak. The Enterprise High School graduate recently finished his third tour of duty in the Baltimore Orioles bushes by putting together some big numbers for the Double-A Hagerstown Suns. Shamburg, 24, a 6-foot-2, 195- pound first baseman, batted .275 "Next year I'd like to hit .300 or great stops and hitting seeds all real close to it, with at least 20 over the place. But with the exhomers and over 100 ribbies," he ception of a few guys, the level of said. play wasn't that great." "I would like to make the Ori- Playing for the Single-A Fredoles next year, but if I played at erick Keys his first season, ShamRochester all year that would be burg belted a home run in his all right with me," he said. "I'm first professional at-bat. going to put out my best effort "It was a three-two fastball," he and whatever happens, happens." said. "I remember running Not much happened to Sham- around the bases and thinking I burg, who played junior college couldn't wait to call my parents." ball at Butte, after he finished his He finished his first season two-year career at Division I Lou- with Frederick batting .321 with isiana Tech University with 41 ca- homers and 54 seven RBI. Playreer home runs and 118 RBI. De- ing at Hagerstown in 1990, he batspite his numbers, he went un- ted .276 with two homers and 42 RBI. He also played in two drafted. games "When I wasn't drafted I at Rochester, going 2-for-6. going up to bat thinking thought I was done," Shamburg; Shamburg, who's staying with Shamburg said. "Like said. "Playing baseball is the only his folks in Redding until midin the bigs say, don't thing I ever wanted to do since I October, plans to spend the offmuch. Go up there with was 4 years old." season pouring concrete for a don't outthink yourself. But Shamburg managed to get a friend in Virginia. He also has a the bottom line is that I tryout with the Milwaukee Brew- wedding date planned for Jan. 25 chance to do something up ers and eventually signed as a in Shreveport, La. Then in Februsaid. "All I had to do is free agent with Baltimore in 1989. ary it's off to spring training what I was doing. But "I remember after I signed I where he wouldn't mind playing do it." figured I'd get (to the minor his way into the "show." his season at double-A leagues) and the players would be "If I continue to put up good Shamburg should ungodly," Shamburg said. "I numbers I'll get my chance," he with Rochester. thought they'd be coming up with said, "I was too much," the guys think too a plan but "But had a there," he keep doing I didn't After Hagerstown, open 1992
