Aaron Shortridge
Aaron Shortridge
Position: RHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 215 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 05/29/1997
College: University of California - Berkeley
How Acquired: Draft 4th round, 114th Overall, 2018
Bonus: $475,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 3
Overview
Shortridge started his college career in the bullpen, but after a strong sophomore season he moved to the rotation in 2018. He had a 2.77 ERA in 91 innings, with a 74:14 K:BB ratio while making 12 starts in 17 appearances, with three complete games and two saves. Baseball America had him as the number 365 prospect, moving up about 80 spots in their final rankings.
When he was drafted, Shortridge had some projection in his frame, with a 93 MPH fastball. As a pro he was mostly in the upper-80s, but in mid-2019 he started getting up to 93-94 again. He also throws a slider at 78-81 MPH, which BA called fringe-average. His third pitch is a changeup. Shortridge signed quickly for slightly below the slot value of $488,200.
2018-21
In his draft year, Shortridge pitched very well in the New York-Penn League, with opponents managing just a .574 OPS against him. He was shut down after eight starts due to soreness, although there was no specific injury. In 2019, the Pirates pushed Shortridge up to Bradenton, where he spent the entire season in the rotation. His season proceeded in three parts: He had an ERA of 1.17 in his first four starts, 5.08 in the next ten, and 1.77 in his last ten. He had a much lower K rate than the previous year, but walked very few batters. The Pirates were impressed with his progress at the alternate site during the pandemic year, but he had Tommy John surgery in January 2021 and missed the season.
2022-24
In 2022, Shortridge returned in June and, after three rehab starts for Bradenton, made 14 starts for Altoona. He mostly struggled, but it was his TJ recovery season so it’s hard to know whether that says much. He did finish strongly, allowing just one earned run over 20 innings in his last four starts. In fact, in his last start, Shortridge worked seven three-hit, shutout innings. He was back at Altoona in 2023, making 27 starts. He had some very good stretches, but also some bad ones. Opponents put up an OPS against him that was about 70 points above the league average. He finished with a 5.01 ERA, although that was inflated by a late-season start when he was left in to give up a dozen earned runs in just 2.2 IP.
Shortridge opened the 2024 season on the 60-day injured list. After rehabbing at lower levels, he joined Indianapolis in mid-July. He started and relieved for them in six games each, throwing 48.2 IP. Whether the layoff affected him is hard to say, but he gave up 48 hits and 20 walks, fanned 40 and had a 5.18 ERA.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2018: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 4th round, 114th overall pick; signed on June 11.