Austin Shenton #54

Austin grew up a Mariners fan and spent two seasons in the Seattle organization after the club drafted him in 2019…he is no stranger to the state of Florida, however, spending the final two seasons of his collegiate career at Miami’s Florida International University...While awaiting a verdict on the postponed 2020 season, he built a small gym in his garage using equipment purchased on Craigslist and constructed a backyard batting cage with his dad…he also picked up cycling and went on daily rides to help stay in shape...Austin and Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp have been friends since childhood…in May 2020, the two completed a 10,000-calorie workout challenge, biking 125 miles, hiking/running seven miles and swimming 1.25 miles…the workout lasted 17 hours and was completed in Rapp’s girlfriend’s backyard pool...During an intrasquad game at the Mariners alternate site in Tacoma in 2020, Austin made headlines after belting a 453-foot homer off George Kirby over the 29-foot wall in center field at Cheney Stadium…previously, the only documented homers to clear the wall had been hit by Jose Canseco, Jay Buhner, Shin-Soo Choo and A.J. Zapp…the stadium opened in 1960...Austin is big supporter of the Max Higbee Center, which supports teens and adults with developmental disabilities by providing social, recreational and learning opportunities in Bellingham, Washington…his brother, Ian, is a long-time member of the Center…upon receiving his signing bonus, Austin used part of the money to kickstart a GoFundMe that supported the Center’s renovation efforts...Selected by the Mariners in the fifth round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida International University, where he played for two seasons (2018-19) after transferring from Bellevue (Wash.) Community College…was previously selected by Cleveland in the 34th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Bellingham (Wash.) High School, but did not sign...Led the Wareham Gatemen to a Cape Cod League championship in 2018, earning playoff MVP honors after going 12-for-23 (.522) with three HR and 12 RBI over six appearances…named a CCBL All-Star and earned All-CCBL honors following the season.

2023

Split the season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, batting a combined .304/.423/.584 (144-for-473)…paced all Rays farmhands in RBI (99), doubles (45), walks (94), total bases (276) and runs scored (102) while ranking second in OPS (1.007) and hits (144)...His 45 doubles were tied with BAL Coby Mayo for the most in the minors while his 74 extra-base hits ranked second behind Mayo (77XBH)…the 74 XBH were the second most by a Rays farmhand in club history, trailing only Steve Cox (78XBH) in 1999...Named the Rays Minor League Co-Hitter of the Month and Southern League Player of the Month for June, batting .385 with 7 2B, 9 HR and 27 RBI in 25 games...At the time of his July 14 promotion to Durham, he sat atop the Southern League leaderboards in average (.307), slugging pct. (.567), OPS (.982) and doubles (21)...From July 14 through the end of the season, he led the International League in total bases (132), extra-base hits (38) and runs scored (57)…finished the season batting .323/.506/.554 (21-for-65) over 19 games in September.

2022

Placed on the 7-day IL with a hip injury on June 28 and missed the remainder of the season…ranked by Baseball America as the No. 29 prospect in the Rays system following the season.

2021

Acquired by the Rays from the Mariners in a mid-season trade on July 29 involving RHP Diego Castillo…hit .295/.398/.549 (93-for-315) with 14 HR and 70 RBI in 80 games between the two organizations…at the time of his July 16 promotion from Class-A Everett to Double-A Arkansas, led the High-A West with 55 runs, 24 2B, 38 XBH, 53 RBI, a .576 SLG and .994 OPS.

2020

Not part of the Mariners 60-man player pool and did not play following the cancellation of the minor league season…was rated as having the Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Mariners organization by Baseball America.

2019

Split his first full professional season between Everett (June 8–July 14) and Class-A West Virginia (July 15–end of season)…hit .298 (59-for-198) with 17 doubles, two triples, 7 HR, 36 RBI, 19 walks and 29 runs in 53 games…reached base safely in all 21 of his games with Everett, batting .367 (29-for-79) with 15 XBH, 16 RBI and 16 runs...Went 1-for-3 with a homer in his West Virginia debut on July 15…was on the 7-day IL from Aug. 21–Sept. 16 with a fractured cheekbone after being hit by a pitch…rated as the No. 16 prospect in the Northwest League by Baseball America.