Justus Sheffield had an interesting 2019 season. The Mariners prize in the James Paxton trade, Sheffield began the season in AAA Tacoma and things went rather poorly. In 55 innings, Sheffield produced a 6.87 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP, with just 48 strikeouts along the way.
Sheffield made a 1-game Mariners debut and was sent back to the minors right after, but the woes in the PCL didn’t go away. Then the Mariners made a decision that may have changed the outlook of Sheffield’s career: they demoted him to AA Arkansas. And there, he flourished.
Working with Pete Woodworth, Arkansas pitching coach, Sheffield’s fastball command and plan of attack seemingly improved overnight.