To fully understand the oomph pitcher James Shields gives the White Sox requires going back to the day his career received one.
A 16th-round pick in the 2000 draft, Shields found himself a Class A pitcher struggling to stay healthy and motivated after three so-so seasons — and not necessarily in that order. At home in southern California during the winter of 2003, Shields received a call from Aaron Rowand, his overachieving older cousin who always considered him a younger brother. He somehow found the energy to answer it.
Rowand extended Shields an invitation.