Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round (10th overall) of the 1999 draft,[1][3] he made his professional debut with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League. In August, against the Idaho Falls Chukars, Sheets struck out eight batters while allowing just one hit through five innings. Later in the month, he was promoted to Class AStockton of the California League. In his seven minor league starts that year, Sheets averaged a strikeout ratio of 10.09 batters per nine innings.
In 2000, Sheets was on the United States national team for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.[4] He pitched 22 innings, struck out 11 batters, walked one, and gave up 11 hits during the tournament, and faced off against Cuban ace Pedro Luis Lazo in the gold medal game, giving up three singles and advancing just one runner to second base for the entire game.[1] Sheets gave up no walks and struck out five in a 4–0 complete-game shutout.
Milwaukee Brewers (2001–2008)
By 2001, Sheets had been promoted to the Brewers' starting rotation. His first two starts resulted in losses, but he won his next four, while pitching to a 1.73 ERA.[1] On May 29, in his ninth career start, he pitched his first shutout, giving up five hits against the St. Louis Cardinals.[5] He ended the season 11–10 with a 4.76 ERA. In 2003, Sheets was troubled by bulging discs in his lower back.[4] "My back has been hurt but you've got to go out there and perform," he said.[4] Over the final two months of the season, Sheets pitched poorly and finished the year 11–13 with a 4.45 ERA.[4]
In 2004, Sheets' trouble with a bulging disc subsided. On June 13, 2004, Sheets struck out all three batters on nine total pitches in the third inning of a 5–4 loss to the Houston Astros, becoming the 26th National League pitcher and the 35th pitcher in major-league history to accomplish an immaculate inning. During 2004, his fastball was being clocked regularly at 96–98 miles per hour (154–158km/h), primarily a result of improved health.[4] That season he also struck out 18 batters in a May 16, 2004, game against the Atlanta Braves, shattering the franchise record of 14, set by Moose Haas in 1978.[6]
By the end of the season, Sheets established himself as a strikeout threat, throwing 264, to finish second in the National League and third in the majors behind Randy Johnson and Johan Santana.[3] After posting an ERA above 4.00 in his previous three seasons, Sheets compiled a dominant 2.70 ERA and 0.98 WHIP, which ranked Sheets fourth and third, respectively, among all starting pitchers.[3] Most impressively, Sheets amassed only 32 walks, giving Sheets a strikeout-to-walk ratio of over 8:1, far and away the best in the major leagues. A mediocre 12–14 win–loss record during this outstanding season was primarily the result of poor run support.[3] Sheets finished 8th in the Cy Young Award voting.
In response to his success in 2004, the Brewers signed Sheets to a four-year, $38.5 million extension.[3] At that time, it was the largest contract in Brewers history.[3] However, after signing the contract, Sheets struggled with health issues. A series of inner ear infections that caused dizziness and a loss of balance forced Sheets onto the disabled list for a period of time in the beginning of the 2005 season.[7]
Sheets started the 2006 season on the disabled list but quickly came off it only to pitch three starts before going on the DL again with shoulder tendinitis. He returned to the starting rotation two weeks after the All-Star break. Sheets pitched a seven-inning shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his second game back, he would pitch nearly a complete-game shutout, but in the 9th inning, Sheets gave up a two-run homer to Ken Griffey Jr. of the Reds.
In 2007, Sheets started both his and the Brewers' season on a high note by throwing an Opening Day complete game, two-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[8] A strained hamstring in August forced him to miss the rest of the 2007 regular season.
Sheets started on Opening Day 2008 in a 4–3 win over the Cubs.[9] He batted eighth in the lineup, the first Brewers starting pitcher to bat in a position other than ninth.[9] In his second start, Sheets threw only the second complete-game shutout of his career, beating the San Francisco Giants 7–0 in a five-hit, eight-strikeout performance.[5]
On May 10, Sheets struck out St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols on a breaking ball in the first inning to reach 1,082 strikeouts, breaking Teddy Higuera's club mark.[citation needed] On July 9, Sheets had a season-high 11 strikeouts, including the first seven outs as strikeouts.[10] By mid-July, he was 10–3 with a 2.85 ERA and was chosen as a starting pitcher for the National League in the 2008 All-Star Game.[11] Pitching in his fourth All-Star Game, Sheets became the first Milwaukee Brewer pitcher to start an All-Star Game. In his 2008 All-Star outing, he pitched two scoreless innings, giving up one hit, walking two, and striking out three.
Sheets finished the season with 13–9 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts and 1981⁄3 innings pitched.[12] He went to a 3–0 count on only 2% of all batters he faced in the season, the lowest percentage in the majors.[13] He also threw curveballs 33% of the time, more than any other starter in the major leagues.[14] At the end of the season, he incurred a tear in his right elbow, underwent Tommy John surgery and did not pitch in the postseason.[12]
In October 2008, Sheets filed for free agency.[15] Most teams were put off by Sheets due to his propensity for injuries.[12][16] In addition, Sheets was a "type-A" free agent, meaning that if a team signed him before the Rule 4 draft, they would forfeit a draft pick to the Brewers. Sheets ultimately did not play during the 2009 season.
On January 26, 2010, Sheets agreed to a one-year, $10 million with an additional $2 million in incentives, contract with the Oakland Athletics.[17] Sheets got the Opening Day start, going five innings allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three and walking four, receiving a no-decision. The Athletics lost the game in the bottom of the 9th.
On July 29, 2010, the Athletics announced Sheets would miss the remainder of the season due to a torn flexor in his right elbow. His season ended with Sheets going 4–9 in 20 starts.[18]
Atlanta Braves (2012)
On July 1, 2012, the Atlanta Braves announced that Sheets had signed a minor league contract with the organization in order to attempt a comeback to the major leagues.[19] He made his first minor league start with the Mississippi Braves on July 4, 2012. On July 12, the Braves announced that they had called Sheets up from the minors. Sheets made his first start in nearly two years, on July 15 against the New York Mets. He pitched six scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out five to earn the win.[20] After his second start also resulted in no runs given up by Sheets, who pitched six innings of five-hit, six-strikeout ball, he stated, "If you asked me if I'm surprised I haven't given up a run, yeah I am. But I'm not surprised I'm getting people out. I wouldn't have come back if I didn't think I could get people out."[21] Sheets made the final start of his career on October 3, 2012, against the Pirates.[22]
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