MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Versatility is always a valuable trait to have in any venture, but Indianapolis utility man J.B. Shuck sees that value trending upward in baseball.
Shuck, speaking before the Indians' game Saturday, said players who can be designated as "two-way players" will become more useful to major-league and minor-league teams alike in the coming seasons.
Shuck, a sixth-round draft pick in 2008 who signed with the Pirates as a free agent this offseason, was sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis in May to work on the versatility of adding pitching back to his game. A 32-year-old Ohio native, Shuck was a two-way standout at Ohio State.
"I'm getting to do a little bit of everything. I'm learning how to pitch again," Shuck said of his move to Indy. "I threw in college, so I have a little bit of a background, but it's been a few years. I've gotten a few innings here and there in pro ball."
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