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Shaffer Called Up To Majors

Shaffer Called Up To Majors

CLEMSON, S.C. – Former Tiger infielder Richie Shaffer was called up to the majors for the first time with the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. He started that night at the Chicago White Sox and became the 53rd former Tiger to play in the major leagues, including the first to play with the Rays.

After starting the season with the Rays’ AA affiliate, Montgomery (Ala.), Shaffer was promoted in May to AAA Durham (N.C.), where he hit .265 with 16 home runs in 55 games. In 368 career minor league games in the Rays’ organization from 2012-15, he has 57 homers and 222 RBIs.

Shaffer was one of the best all-around first-basemen in Clemson history during his time as a Tiger from 2010-12. He was a career .325 hitter with a .448 on-base percentage in 174 games. He also totaled 47 doubles, four triples, 30 homers, 137 RBIs, 156 runs and 18 steals. Shaffer, who played third base in 2012, was a two-time, First-Team All-ACC selection, as he became the first Tiger in history to be named First-Team All-ACC at two different infield positions over the course of a career.

Before he was drafted in the first round (No. 25 overall pick) by the Rays, he earned first-team All-America honors by Perfect Game as a junior in 2012, when he hit .336 with 21 doubles, 10 homers, 46 RBIs and a .480 on-base percentage.

Shaffer also earned First-Team All-ACC honors in 2011 after hitting .315 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs. As a freshman in 2010, he batted .323 with seven homers and 36 RBIs in 48 games. Shaffer tallied three homers, three doubles, 12 RBIs and 11 runs in 11 NCAA Tournament starts during Clemson’s run to the 2010 College World Series.

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