Paul Shuey

Paul Kenneth Shuey (born September 16, 1970) is an American former professional baseball player. Primarily a relief pitcher, Shuey pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians (1994–2002), Los Angeles Dodgers (2002–2003) and Baltimore Orioles.

Shuey was honored as an All-American as a college baseball pitcher for the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team. The Indians selected Shuey with the second overall selection of the 1992 MLB draft. Envisioned as a comparable pitcher to Cincinnati Reds closer Rob Dibble, Shuey had more success as a setup reliever than closer.

Shuey attended Millbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. At UNC, Shuey was named a freshman All-American and All-ACC pitcher for the Tar Heels in 1990, as he had an 8-1 win–loss record and eight saves. He led the team with 31 appearances, and the Tar Heels were the ACC regular season and tournament championships. Shuey and Chad Holbrook won the team's S.H. Basnight Award as the team's most valuable players.

Professional career

Cleveland Indians The Indians selected Shuey with their first round draft pick, the second overall selection, in the 1992 Major League Baseball draft. The Indians envisioned that Shuey could develop into a closer similar to Rob Dibble of the Cincinnati Reds. Shuey made his professional debut with the Columbus Red Stixx of the Class-A South Atlantic League in 1992.

Heading into the 1993 season, Baseball America ranked Shuey as the 81st best prospect in baseball. He pitched for the Kinston Indians of the Class-A Carolina League in 1993, going 1–0 with a 4.84 ERA in 15 appearances, Shuey was promoted from Kinston to the major leagues during the 1994 season, becoming the first player promoted from Class-A to the majors since Greg Swindell during the 1986 season. He also pitched for the Charlotte Knights of the Class-AAA International League that season. Baseball America ranked Shuey as the 67th best prospect in baseball heading into the 1995 season. He also pitched for the Buffalo Bisons of the International League in 1995, and spent time on the disabled list with an injured hamstring. He also pitched for the Senadores de San Juan of the Puerto Rico Baseball League that winter to gain more experience. Shuey received a three-year contract from the Indians at the start of the 1997 season, worth $3.203 million guaranteed. An option year and performance bonuses made the maximum value of the contract $11.603 million over four seasons.

With José Mesa and Mike Jackson serving as closers for the Indians, Shuey pitched in middle relief. In 1998, he led all American League relief pitchers with a .132 (7–for–53) batting average against when the opposition had baserunners in scoring position. Shuey appeared in four postseasons for the Indians, including in 1998, when he pitched scoreless innings for the Indians in the 1998 American League Championship Series.

In 1999, while pitching on a wet mound in Cleveland, Shuey injured his right hip. Over the next several seasons, he had multiple surgeries on his hip, including repairing a torn labrum and removing bone spurs. When Shuey spent time on the disabled list, Steve Karsay served as the Indians' closer. He again spent time on the disabled list in 2001 with a strained elbow ligament.

Los Angeles Dodgers As the 2002 trade deadline approached, teams interested in acquiring Shuey began to inquire on his availability. On July 28, 2002, before the trade deadline, Shuey was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Terry Mulholland and minor leaguers Ricardo Rodríguez and Francisco Cruceta. With the Dodgers in the playoff chase that season, they hoped to pair him with closer Éric Gagné to form a strong bullpen for the later portions of games. Shuey played for the Dodgers through the end of the 2003 season. During spring training prior to the 2004 season, he tore a ligament in his thumb and reinjured his hip while fielding a bunt during his rehabilitation. Shuey spent the entire season on the disabled list. The Dodgers sued the Hartford Life Insurance Company, who insured Shuey's contract, over Shuey's $3.25 million salary for the 2004 season, saying the insurance company did not honor their claim.

Later career A free agent after the 2004 season, Shuey signed a minor league contract with the Indians to attempt a comeback in the 2005 season. After pitching two innings for the Class-AA Akron Aeros, he retired due to pain in his right hip.

Shuey sat out the whole 2006 season, as he received a hip replacement. On February 2, 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Orioles that included an invitation to spring training.

Though his fastball was able to reach earlier in his career, Shuey's fastball had difficulty reaching due to his metal hip. On July 1, 2007, he recorded his first save since 2002, in a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He finished the 2007 season with a 9.82 ERA in 22 games. As his fastball increased in velocity, Shuey injured his back.

Personal Shuey was inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Millbrook High School Hall of Fame in 2012.

Shuey lives with his family, including his wife Julie and three daughters; Morgan (born 1997), Casey (born 1998), and Kate (born 2006).

, Shuey was competing in local bass fishing tournaments. He hoped to compete in the Bassmaster Elite Series of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.

In 2013, Shuey began serving as an assistant coach of the Barton Bulldogs women's soccer team.