Position: RHP
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 10/24/1996
College: University of Texas
How Acquired: Trade (with Red Sox for Matt McShane)
Drafted: 12th round, 370th Overall, 2018 (Red Sox)
Bonus: $125,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 2
Overview
Shugart moved up slowly through Boston’s farm system. Originally a starter, he moved to relief when he reached AA. He hasn’t pitched especially well in the minors, especially in AAA, where he has a 6.13 ERA in 96 games. He’s appeared in only four major league games. His stuff seems impressive. He throws a four-seam fastball and a sinker, both in the mid-90s. He adds a cutter, slider and change. He’s had good walk rates but just decent K rates. He tends to give up a lot of hits and has sometimes had trouble with gopher balls. The Pirates acquired Shugart after the Red Sox designated him for assignment.
2018-21
Shugart pitched just briefly in his draft year, then missed most of the first two months of 2019 due to a 50-game suspension for a second positive drug test. After being activated, he had a 2.81 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 16 starts in low A. He didn’t pitch in the pandemic season.
In 2021, Shugart spent the season as a starter in high A. He was less successful there, with a 4.78 ERA and opponents batting .292 against him.
2022-24
Shugart split 2022 between AA and AAA, then spent all of 2023 in AAA. He pitched well in AA, but had a very rough time at the higher level. He had an ERA of 6.82 there in 2022 and 8.22 in 2023, and opponents hit .302 and .320 against him in those years. He also had some control problems in 2023.
In 2024, Shugart returned to AAA and didn’t get hit as hard, but still had a 4.46 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. He did improve his K rate sharply to 10.2 per nine innings. Boston called him up in August and he got into six games with them, allowing four earned runs in 8.2 IP. After the season, the Red Sox designated Shugart for assignment and traded him to the Pirates for Matt McShane.
Shugart has two options left.
Stats
Transactions
June 6, 2018: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 12th round, 370th overall pick; signed on July 6.
August 12, 2024: Contract purchased by the Boston Red Sox.
January 17, 2024: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Matt McShane.