Florida State Player of the Week: 3B Zach Shepherd – Tigers

By David Conde
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Updated: April 24, 2017

On July 4, 2012, the Detroit Tigers went outside the United States and signed Australian born Zach Shepherd to a minor league contract.

The 2011 Australian Player of the Year started his professional career in 2014 with the Gulf Coast League Tigers (Rookie) and in 51 games, he batted .301, with 34 runs, 12 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 29 RBIs. Prior to his time in the States, Shepherd played two seasons (2012-2013) in the Australian Baseball League as well as the first half of the 2014 season and combined he batted .230, with 47 runs, 14 doubles, six home runs, 32 RBIs and 50 walks.

In 2015, he was assigned to the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps in the Midwest League and in 114 games, he batted .245, with 48 runs, 17 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 51 RBIs and 47 walks.

Shepherd, the Detroit Tigers #22 Top Prospect, was promoted to the Class-Advanced Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Florida State League for the 2016 season and in 121 games he struggled at the plate batting just .186, while leading the league with 159 strikeouts, but he showed pop in his bat by launching 15 Home runs and driving in 50. He also scored 62 runs, and hit 20 doubles, a triple, and walked 47 times.

Through 17 games this season, the 21-year old third baseman is batting .283 (17 for 60), with 10 runs, three doubles, two home runs, and 12 RBI’s.

But over the past week spanning April 17-23, Shepherd is batting .400 (10 for 25), with seven runs scored, three doubles, two home runs, and 11 RBIs.

Over the past week, the Flying Tigers are 5-2 (10-8 overall), currently on a three-game winning streak, and tied for second in the North Division, just two games out of the lead.

Congrats to Zach Shepherd for being named LOD’s Florida State League Player of the Week for April 17-23.

Honorable Mentions

Daytona Tortugas

The Tortugas are 6-5 in their last 11 games, have won four straight and currently sit at 10-8 and just two games out of first in the FSL North Division. Two ball players have stood out this past week, Gavin LaValley and Shed Long. Long currently has a 6-game hitting streak.

LaValley – .346 (9 for 26), 6 R, Double, 3 HR, 6 RBI, BB

Long – .385 (10 for 26), 4 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, BB

Fort Myers Miracle

The Miracle have been struggling to stay over .500, but over the past week, they are 5-2 and sit at 8-10. There are a few bright spots in the lineup and one is third baseman Chris Paul, who had a solid time at the plate during the span. Paul is working on a 10-game hitting streak.

Paul – .393 (11 for 28), 3 R, HR, 4 RBI

Jupiter Hammerheads

The Hammerheads sit at 9-9 and only a game out of first in the FSL South Division. They had a good week, finishing at 4-3, and Brad Haynal stood out with the bat. He is also working on a 7-game hitting streak, with five multi-hit games during the span.

Haynal – .407 (11 for 27), 2 R, 2 Doubles, 3 RBIs, BB

Dunedin Blue Jays

The Blue Jays had a tough week, finishing 3-4, and overall are 9-9 in the FSL North Division. Even in their struggles, outfielder Andrew Guillotte, stood out his with play. He currently has a five game hitting streak.

Guillotte – .423 (11 for 26), 8 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB

David Conde

David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.