Player Spotlight - Birmingham's Robert Shaffer

[bigmike13]

Robert Shaffer is a regular guy, is married to his high school sweetheart, has a 2 year old son, a house and a dog named Strike but that is about where the regular part stops. Shaffer is a starting pitcher for the Birmingham Bandits and is primed for a stellar career.

Blessed with a 97 mph Fastball and ice water in his veins, Shaffer has ascended into the role of Ace for the Birmingham staff. Still relatively young at 26, Shaffer has the makeup of an All Star pitcher in the making.

Growing up in Wentzville, Missouri, a city of about 29,000, Robert stood out at everything he did. An All State pitcher for Wentzville Timberland High School he went on to be the 1st round pick of Birmingham in the 2003 1st Year Player Draft.

Robert showed steady improvement over his first two years with the Bandits but an elbow injury early in the 2007 season derailed his progress. Currently holding a career 37-38 record and an ERA of 3.42, things can only get brighter for Shaffer. Robert is working with team trainer Miguel Rivera during the offseason to strengthen his core and endurance for the grind of a full season.

[recte44]

He was an OF in the draft....Aaron found his pitching skills and converted him

[bigmike13]

Smart move from Aaron.