Ben M. Sheets was originally signed by Brewers scout Jonathan Story...is married...wife's name is Julie...the couple has two children, Seaver and Miller...graduated from St. Amant (LA) High School...attended Northeast Louisiana University, where he was inducted into the school's sports Hall of Fame in 2007...recorded a 20-strikeout performance in a game vs. Louisiana Tech...was named first team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America in 1999...was 1999 Southland Conference Player of the Year...was a member of Team USA during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, earning
a gold medal.
2011
Became a free agent following the 2010 season with Oakland but did not sign with another team...missed the entire 2011 season after undergoing surgery on his right elbow in February.
2010
Was the A's Opening Day starter and made 20 starts before an elbow injury ended his season in late July...was 4-9 with a 4.53 ERA after missing the entire 2009 season following elbow surgery...his .308 winning percentage was the lowest of his career and his .486 opponents slugging percentage and 3.2 walks per nine innings were the highest...also had a career-low 84 strikeouts while his ERA was second highest to his 4.76 as a rookie in 2001...has now made 241 career appearances, all starts...in major league history, only Tom Glavine (682) and CC Sabathia (322) have more career starts without a relief appearance...was 1-3 with a 7.12 ERA and .339 opponents batting average over his first six starts through May 2...then went 3-6 despite a 3.64 ERA and .240 opponents batting average over his final 14 starts...went 4-4 with a 2.91 ERA and .231 opponents batting average in 11 starts in Oakland but was 0-5 with a 6.66 ERA and .310 opponents average in nine starts on the road...yielded 12 of his 18 home runs in away games...has not won on the road since Aug. 26, 2008 at St. Louis and is 0-6 with a 6.67 ERA (44 er in 59.1 ip) over his last 11 road starts...allowed a .267 opponents batting average, which included a .255 (59 for 231) mark against left-handed hitters and .278 (64 for 230) against righthanders...opponents hit .319 with runners in scoring position, including .368 with RISP and two outs...had season run support of 4.07, but that included 2.89 over his first 15 starts when he compiled a 2-7 record, and 7.31 over his final five starts when he went 2-2...was 2-5 with a 4.14 ERA in 13 starts on four days rest and 2-4 with a 5.27 ERA in seven starts on five days rest or more...yielded a .291 batting average and .366 on-base percentage to hitters leading off an inning...tied for the American League lead in pickoff errors (3) and tied for second in triples allowed (8)...the A's were 7-13 (.350) in his starting assignments...his teams are 116-125 (.481) in his career...tossed at least six innings in 17 of his 20 starts, allowed two runs or fewer seven times and walked two batters or fewer 10 times.
OAKLAND: Was the A's Opening Day starter April 5 against Seattle and had a no decision in a 5-3 loss...became the A's fifth different Opening Day starter in the last five years (Braden, Blanton, Haren, Zito)...it was his seventh career Opening Day start and he is 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA (12 er in 41.2 ip) in those seven starts...tossed 6.0 shutout innings against Baltimore April 15 for his first win as an Athletic...it was his first victory since Sept. 6, 2008...allowed eight runs April 27 at Tampa Bay and nine on May 2 at Toronto to become the second pitcher in Oakland history to allow at least eight runs in backto-back starts...Mark Mulder was the other (Sept. 15-21, 2004) but Sheets was the first with at least eight earned runs...surrendered an Oakland-record eight extra-base hits in the game at Toronto...went four consecutive starts without a decision from May 13 to 28 (2.81 ERA), which was the longest such stretch of his career, including May 23 against San Francisco when he combined with Wuertz, Blevins, Ziegler and Bailey on a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 win...left after six innings with the score tied at 0-0...it was the 17th time in Oakland history a starting pitcher had a no decision in a shutout...tossed 7.0 innings at Detroit May 28, snapping a career-long streak of 13 consecutive starts with fewer than seven innings pitched...allowed three or more extra base hits in an Oakland-record eight consecutive games from May 28 to July 5...went 0-4 with a 5.04 ERA over a four-start stretch from June 2 to 19...the losing streak was his longest over the last five years...tossed 6.0 innings June 7 against Los Angeles to eclipse 1500 innings in his career...singled June 19 at St. Louis and was 1-for-3 (.333) in two games overall...however, has a .078 (34-for-436) career batting average, which is second lowest in Major League history among players with 300 or more at bats...Dean Chance (1961-71) had a .066 (44-for-662) batting average...picked up his third win of the season June 25 against Pittsburgh...it was his first win since May 8, snapping an eight-start streak without a win...the longest winless stretch of his career is nine starts...went 1-4 with a 5.11 ERA in six starts in June...the four losses equaled his most in a month (sixth time, last: Sept., 2004)...had an ERA of 4.84 or higher in each of the first three months before going 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts in July...was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 24, retroactive to July 20, with a strained right elbow...was leading the majors with 57 extra base hits allowed following his final start...was transferred to the 60-day DL July 31...had "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow Aug. 9 and also had the flexor and pronator tendons repaired...the surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas.
2009
Became a free agent following the 2008 season with Milwaukee but did not sign with another team...missed the entire 2009 season after undergoing surgery on his right elbow in February.
2008
Went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts...the Brewers were 18-13 in his starts...his 13 wins led the team and marked the most of his career...ranked among the National League leaders in shutouts (t-1st, 3), complete games (2nd, 5) and ERA (5th, 3.09)...was selected to his fourth All-Star Game...became the first pitcher in Brewers history to start the game, which was played at Yankee Stadium (2.0 ip, 1 h, 2 bb, 3 so)...was named Milwaukee Pitcher of the Month for April (4-0, 1.64 ERA) and May (2-1, 3.53 ERA)...began the year with 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings, the sixth-longest streak to start a season in team history...made his sixth Opening Day start March 31 at Chicago (NL) and received a no decision in the Brewers 4-3, 10-inning win (6.1 ip, 2 h, 2 bb, 7 so)...his first victory of the year was a five-hit shutout in a 7-0 win, April 6 at San Francisco (0 bb, 8 so)...tossed another five-hit shutout in a 6-0 win, Aug. 9 against Washington (0 bb, 6 so)...fired his third five-hit shutout in a 1-0 win against San Diego, Sept. 6 (1 bb, 7 so)...it was the first 1-0 shutout by a Brewer since Jaime Navarro did it against Boston, Aug. 16, 1992...retired 18 consecutive batters from the second through eighth innings, April 12 at New York (NL)...it marked the fifth straight season he had starts in which he retired 18 in a row...recorded a career high seven walks in 5.0 innings April 29 at Chicago (NL) but still posted a 10-7 win...struck out Albert Pujols May 10 against St. Louis for career strikeout number 1082...that broke the previous Milwaukee career record of 1081 by Teddy Higuera...in a 4-1 win May 21 at Pittsburgh, he became the third pitcher in franchise history to throw a complete game in which he allowed one run or less and 11 hits or more...joined Marty Pattin (1971) and Bill Wegman (1992)...retired the last 16 batters in a 4-1, complete game victory at Atlanta, June 23...tossed 20.0 consecutive scoreless innings from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6...left three starts early due to injuries: April 18 at Cincinnati (5.0 ip, tightness in right triceps muscle), Sept. 1 vs. New York (NL) (5.0 ip, tightness in left groin) and Sept. 17 at Chicago (NL) (2.0 ip, tightness in right forearm).
2007
Went 12-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 24 starts...the Brewers were 15-9 in his starts...tied Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan for the team lead with 12 wins...was selected to his third All-Star Game...tossed a scoreless inning, allowing two hits...was named Brewers Pitcher of the Month for both May (4-1, 3.29 ERA in six starts) and June (5-0, 2.16 ERA in six starts)...was also named National League Pitcher of the Month for June...made his fifth Opening Day start April 2 vs. Los Angeles (NL) and tossed a complete-game two-hitter in the Brewers' 7-1 win...did not walk a batter and struck out three...retired 22 straight batters between hits (Kent homer/Clark double)...was the first to throw a complete game with two or fewer hits and no walks on Opening Day since Hall of Famer Lefty Grove did it with the Red Sox in a 1-0 victory on April 16, 1940 at Washington...left his start April 25 at Chicago (NL) after 3.0 innings with a strained right groin...following that start produced eight consecutive quality starts, going 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA in that stretch...tossed a career-high 22.0 consecutive scoreless innings from May 29 to June 14, the longest streak by a Brewer in 2007...recorded his 1000th career strikeout (Mike Rabelo) June 14 at Detroit to join Teddy Higuera (1081) as the only Brewers pitchers with 1,000 strikeouts...threw his second complete game in a 6-2 win June 19 vs. San Francisco, a six-hitter...notched his only double-digit strikeout game of the year in a 13-4 win June 30 at Chicago (NL) as he struck out 11 batters over 8.0 innings...left his start July 14 vs. Colorado in the fourth inning with a distal sprain of the right middle finger...was on the 15-day disabled list from July 15 to Aug. 28...an ultrasound performed July 17 showed a partial tearing of the tissue surrounding the tendon of the middle finger...was reinstated from the DL Aug. 29 and went 2-1 with a 6.14 ERA in his last five starts...made his final start of the season Sept. 18 at Houston and left after 1.0 inning with tightness in his left hamstring.
2006
Went 6-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 17 starts...the Brewers were 6-11 in his starts...began the season on the 15-day disabled list with a right posterior shoulder strain...was reinstated April 16 after making two rehab starts between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville...struck out 10 batters over 7.0 innings April 21 against Cincinnati but suffered a 3-1 loss...lasted just 2.1 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits in an 8-5 loss, May 2 against Houston...was scratched from his next scheduled start May 7 at Los Angeles (NL) with right shoulder stiffness...placed on the 15-day disabled list May 10, retroactive to May 3, with tendinitis in his right shoulder...was reinstated July 25 after making three rehab starts between Triple-A Nashville and the Brewers affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League...went 5-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 13 starts the rest of the year...struck out 10 batters over 8.0 innings in a 4-3 win, July 30 against Cincinnati...left his start Aug. 5 at St. Louis after just 1.0 inning with tightness in his right pectoral muscle...that tied the shortest outing of his career (Aug. 19, 2003 vs. Philadelphia)...came back to start Aug. 12 at Atlanta...retired the first 18 batters in the second game of a doubleheader Sept. 13 at Pittsburgh before Chris Duffy singled to lead off the seventh inning...earned the 2-1 win and produced his third 10-strikeout game of the year...tossed 6.0 shutout innings in his final start of the season, Sept. 30 at St. Louis, but received a no decision in the Brewers' 3-2 loss...was named Brewers Pitcher of the Month for September/October as he went 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA in six starts...struck out 45 and walked
just four in 41.2 innings.
2005
Signed a four-year contract April 15, replacing the one-year deal he signed February 13...went 10-9 with a 3.33 ERA in 22 starts...the Brewers were 12-10 in his starts...held opponents to a .237 batting average...was the first pitcher with double-digit wins as a Brewer in five consecutive seasons since Mike Caldwell (1978-83) and Moose Haas (1979-83)...was the Brewers' Opening Day starter for the fourth straight season...broke the team record for Opening Day starts shared by Jim Slaton and Teddy Higuera...earned a 9-2 win on Opening Day at Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings (0 bb, 6 so)...following his Opening Day win, went 0-5 with a 4.75 ERA over his next five starts...after the five-game losing streak he went 9-4 with a 3.02 ERA over his last 16 starts of the season...struck out a season-high 10 batters over 8.0 innings in a 3-2 win, July 4 at Florida...threw 9.0 innings in four of five starts from July 30-Aug. 20, tossing his three complete games for the season during this stretch...his only start during the stretch in which he did not pitch 9.0 innings came in an 11-2 loss Aug. 15 at Colorado as he allowed 10 runs (all earned) on a career-high 13 hits in 6.0 innings...was the third time that he allowed a career-high 10 runs in a game...was on the 15-day disabled list from April 21 to May 27 with vestibular neuritis...returned to the 15-day disabled list Aug. 27 with a torn right latissimus dorsi muscle (back)...suffered the injury Aug. 26 vs. Atlanta...was transferred to the 60-day DL Sept. 20 and missed the remainder of the season.
2004
Named Brewers Most Valuable Pitcher for the second consecutive season...went 12-14 with a 2.70 ERA in 34 starts...the Brewers were 16-18 in his starts...Milwaukee was shut out in four of his starts and scored just one run in six others...established career highs in innings pitched (237.0), complete games (5) and strikeouts (264)...ranked among the National League leaders in strikeouts (2nd), complete games (t-2nd), ERA (3rd) and innings pitched (t-3rd)...ranked second in the NL with 1.2 walks per nine innings...led all Major League right-handed pitchers in strikeouts...broke the franchise record and the all-time Milwaukee baseball record (Braves and Brewers) for strikeouts in a season, surpassing Teddy Higuera (240 in 1987)...held opponents to a .226 batting average, which was seventh lowest in the NL...was selected to his second All-Star Game...tossed a scoreless inning, striking out Cleveland's Victor Martinez...had nine games in which he struck out 10 or more batters, including a franchise-record 18 strikeouts in a 4-1 win, May 16 at Atlanta...tossed a three-hitter in that game and walked one...earned National League Player of the Week honors that week...struck out the side on nine pitches in the third inning June 13 vs. Houston (Pete Munro, Craig Biggio & Jose Vizcaino), becoming the 35th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat...went 9-5 with a 2.26 ERA prior to the All-Star Break and 3-9 with a 3.17 ERA after the break...had surgery Oct. 12 in Dallas to repair a lumbar disk herniation (Dr. Drew Dossett).
2003
Was named Brewers Most Valuable Pitcher after going 11-13 with a 4.45 ERA in 34 starts...the Brewers were 18-16 in his starts...tied for fourth in the National League in innings pitched (220.2)...became the first Brewers pitcher to throw 200.0 or more innings in back-to-back seasons since Jaime Navarro in 1992 and 1993...ranked third in the National League with 1.8 walks per nine innings...threw his only complete game of the season in a 3-1 loss, April 10 at Pittsburgh...struck out a season-high eight batters five times...lasted just 1.0 inning Aug. 19 vs. Philadelphia, leaving with stiffness in his right shoulder...did not miss a start.
2002
Went 11-16 with a 4.15 ERA in 34 starts...the Brewers were 12-22 in his starts...tied for the National League lead in losses and ranked eighth in innings pitched (216.2)...threw his only complete game of the season in a 7-1 win, June 18 vs. Houston (7 h, 3 bb, 7 so)...struck out a season-high nine batters May 16 vs. Cincinnati and July 3 at Pittsburgh.
2001
Entered the season as the number one prospect in the Brewers organization according to Baseball America...went 11-10 with a 4.76 ERA in 25 starts...the Brewers were 12-13 in his starts...was one of just three rookies in the Major Leagues to record 10 wins, joining Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia (17) and Houston's Roy Oswalt (14)...made his Major League debut April 5 at Houston, taking an 8-2 loss (6.0 ip, 6 h, 5 r, 5 er, 5 bb, 5 so, 1 hr, 1 hbp, 1 wp)...lost his next start April 11 vs. Houston and was optioned
to Triple-A Indianapolis April 13, where he made two starts before returning to the team April 27...earned his first Major League win in an 8-4 victory, April 28 vs. Montreal (6.1 ip, 7 h, 4 r, 2 er, 1 bb, 5 so)...tossed his first complete game and shutout in a 7-0 win, May 29 at St. Louis (5 h, 1 bb, 3 so)...had a career-high six-game winning streak over a seven-start stretch from May 29 to June 29 (2.87 ERA)...named National League Rookie of the Month for June as he went 5-0 with a 3.55 ERA in six starts...went 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA prior to the All-Star Break and 1-5 with a 7.06 ERA after the break...became just the fifth Major League rookie since 1980 to record 10 or more victories by the All-Star Break, joining the Mets' Ron Darling (10-3, 1984), Royals' Tom Gordon (10-2, 1989), Mariners' Dave Fleming (11-3, 1992) and Devil Rays' Rolando Arrojo (10-5, 1998)...was selected to his first All-Star Game, becoming the first Brewers rookie to make the Midsummer Classic...retired his only batter faced (Mike Sweeney) on a flyout...had a career-high six-game losing streak over a nine-start stretch from July 4 to Oct. 2 (7.36 ERA)...placed on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 14, retroactive to Aug. 6, with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff...was activated Sept. 21.
2000
Was named Brewers Minor League Player of the Year...went 8-8 with a 2.40 ERA in 27 games, including 26 starts, between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Indianapolis...began the season at Huntsville, where he went 5-3 with a 1.88 ERA in 13 starts...was transferred to Indianapolis June 12 and went 3-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 games, 13 starts...following the season pitched for Team USA in the Olympics as the top starter for manager Tommy Lasorda...made three starts and went 1-0 with a 0.41 ERA (1 er in 22.0 ip)...tossed a three-hit shutout vs. Cuba to earn the Gold Medal for the United States, Sept. 27 in Sydney, Australia...returned to Milwaukee the next day to see the final game at County Stadium and received a standing ovation from the more than 56,000 fans in attendance.
1999
In his first professional season went 1-1 with a 4.04 ERA in seven starts between Rookie Ogden and Single-A Stockton...struck out 40 batters in just 35.2 innings...began the season at Ogden, where he went 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in two starts...made his pro debut Aug. 2 at Idaho Falls, receiving a no decision (5.0 ip, 1 h, 1 r, 1 er, 1 bb, 8 so, 1 hr)...was transferred to Stockton Aug. 9 and went 1-0 with a 3.58 ERA in five starts...earned his first professional victory Aug. 12 vs. Visalia (5.0 ip, 4 h, 2 r, 2 er, 4 bb, 4 so)...struck out 14 batters over 7.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and three walks, in a no-decision, Aug. 27 at Bakersfield.
