Jared Shuster Bio
Jared Craig Shuster is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox. The Atlanta Braves selected Shuster in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, and he made his major league debut with Atlanta in 2023. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 210 pounds, Shuster has established himself as a versatile pitcher capable of both starting and relieving duties throughout his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Jared Shuster was born on August 3, 1998, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He is the son of Bennett and Lori Shuster and has a sister named Alexa. Shuster grew up in New Bedford and attended New Bedford High School before transferring to Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, where he completed his high school education and graduated in 2017. He is Jewish, and his hometown remains New Bedford, Massachusetts.
At New Bedford High School, Shuster posted impressive numbers as a freshman, compiling a 6-0 win-loss record with a 0.45 earned run average while throwing in the mid-80s and touching the high-80s with his fastball. Upon transferring to Tabor Academy, he continued to develop as a pitcher. He recorded a 2-1 mark with a 1.88 earned run average as a sophomore, went 3-2 with a 2.40 earned run average as a junior, and finished his senior season with a 4-3 record, a 1.26 earned run average, and 64 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched while serving as team captain. He also played basketball during his high school years.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following high school, Shuster played college baseball at Wake Forest University for the Demon Deacons from 2018 to 2020. As a freshman, he struggled to a 0-3 record with a 7.41 earned run average. He improved significantly as a sophomore, posting a 4-4 record with a 6.49 earned run average while striking out 94 batters in 68 innings, which represented the third-highest strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio in school history at that time. His junior season in 2020 was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still managed a 2-1 record with a 3.76 earned run average, striking out 43 batters in 26 and one-third innings.
During the summers between college seasons, Shuster honed his skills in collegiate summer leagues. After the 2018 season, he played for the New Bedford Bay Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, where he went 2-4 with a 2.76 earned run average and led the league with 62 strikeouts in 49 innings. After the 2019 season, he played for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he went 4-0 with a 1.36 earned run average and 36 strikeouts in 33 innings, earning league All-Star honors. His best pitch throughout his amateur career was his changeup, which he threw over 10 miles per hour slower than his fastball and produced a 60 percent whiff rate.
Jared Shuster Career
Minor League Development (2020–2022)
The Atlanta Braves selected Shuster in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft with the 25th overall pick. He was the seventh first-round draft pick in Wake Forest history and signed for a signing bonus of $2,197,500. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 minor league season was shortened, and Shuster did not appear in any professional games that year. He began his professional career in 2021 with the Single-A Rome Braves and was promoted to the Double-A Mississippi Braves in September. Between both teams, he went 2-0 with a 4.44 earned run average and 90 strikeouts in 73 innings, earning MiLB.com Organization All-Star recognition.
In 2022, Shuster opened the season with the Mississippi Braves and enjoyed a breakout campaign. On April 16, 2022, he struck out eight consecutive Biloxi Shuckers batters, tying a Southern League record. He was selected to the All-Star Futures Game mid-season and was named a Southern League Post-Season All-Star. For the season with Mississippi, he went 6-7 with a 2.78 earned run average and 106 strikeouts in 90 and two-thirds innings. He also made 10 starts with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, where he went 1-3 with a 4.25 earned run average. He earned MiLB Organization All-Star honors for the second consecutive season.
Atlanta Braves Breakthrough (2023)
Shuster began the 2023 season rated as the number one prospect in the Braves organization by MLB.com. During spring training, he competed with Dylan Dodd for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. After Kyle Wright was placed on the injured list, both Shuster and Dodd made the Opening Day roster. Shuster made his major league debut on April 2, 2023, against the Washington Nationals, though he took the loss after allowing four earned runs in four and two-thirds innings. On May 21, 2023, he earned his first career win, giving up only one hit and one walk while striking out seven in six innings against the Seattle Mariners. For the season with Atlanta, Shuster went 4-3 with a 5.81 earned run average and 30 strikeouts in 11 starts covering 52 and two-thirds innings.
Chicago White Sox (2024–2025)
On November 16, 2023, the Braves traded Shuster to the Chicago White Sox as part of a package for Aaron Bummer. He opened the 2024 season with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights and was called up to the major league roster on April 8, making his White Sox debut that same day in relief against the Cleveland Guardians. He appeared in 39 games for Chicago that season, making four starts, and compiled a 2-5 record with a 4.30 earned run average and 56 strikeouts in 73 and one-third innings pitched.
Shuster began the 2025 season with Triple-A Charlotte. He was called up to the White Sox in April when Martín Pérez was placed on the injured list. He made 12 appearances for Chicago during the season, struggling to an 8.04 earned run average with 12 strikeouts in 15 and two-thirds innings. In June, he was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his left hand and began a rehab assignment with Triple-A in July. After returning from the injured list, he did not secure a permanent roster spot and remained in the minors. The White Sox designated him for assignment on August 13, 2025.
Oakland Athletics (2025)
On August 15, 2025, Shuster was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics and optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. In 10 appearances for Las Vegas, he went 0-2 with an 8.53 earned run average and seven strikeouts in 12 and two-thirds innings. On November 5, the Athletics removed him from the 40-man roster and sent him outright to Las Vegas. He was released by the Athletics organization on December 10, 2025.
St. Louis Cardinals (2025–Present)
On December 22, 2025, Shuster signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds to begin the 2026 season. On April 5, 2026, the Cardinals selected his contract, adding him to their active roster. He made two appearances for the team, recording a 4.91 earned run average with one strikeout across three and two-thirds innings pitched. The Cardinals designated him for assignment on April 13, and he cleared waivers before being sent outright to Memphis on April 16. On May 1, the Cardinals added him back to their active roster. He recorded four scoreless innings across two appearances before being designated for assignment again on May 16. Shuster cleared waivers and returned to Memphis via an outright assignment on May 18, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Throughout his career, Shuster has demonstrated the ability to work as both a starter and reliever, showing adaptability to different roles within pitching staffs. His fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s, and his changeup remains his best secondary offering. He throws the changeup in any count and generates a high whiff rate with the pitch. Shuster also features an improving slider as part of his repertoire.
Notable Events and Milestones
Shuster’s professional career has included several notable achievements. His first major league win came against the Seattle Mariners on May 21, 2023. In the minors, his 2022 season with Double-A Mississippi stands out, where he posted a 6-7 record with a 2.78 earned run average and 106 strikeouts in 17 appearances. He also tied a Southern League record by striking out eight consecutive batters on April 16, 2022. As an amateur, he was named a Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star in 2019 after going 4-0 with a 1.36 earned run average during the summer season.
Jared Shuster Career Wins
Through May 6, 2026, Shuster has compiled a 6-8 win-loss record with a 5.12 earned run average and 100 strikeouts across approximately 142 professional innings in his major league career. He has appeared in 21 major league games, working both as a starter and in relief roles.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Shuster’s professional career began when the Atlanta Braves selected him in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft with the 25th overall pick. He was the seventh first-round draft pick in Wake Forest history and signed for a $2,197,500 signing bonus. He spent his first professional season in 2021 splitting time between Single-A Rome and Double-A Mississippi, posting a combined 2-0 record with a 4.44 earned run average and 90 strikeouts in 73 innings. In 2022, he emerged as one of the Braves’ top prospects, beginning the season with Mississippi and earning recognition as a Southern League Post-Season All-Star and All-Star Futures Game selection. His 2022 campaign saw him go 6-7 with a 2.78 earned run average and 106 strikeouts across 90 and two-thirds innings. He also made 10 starts at Triple-A Gwinnett where he posted a 1-3 record with a 4.25 earned run average. By 2023, he had become Atlanta’s top-ranked prospect and earned a spot in the major league rotation during spring training, ultimately making his MLB debut on April 2, 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
After being traded to Chicago that November, Shuster appeared in 39 games with the White Sox in 2024, posting a 2-5 record with a 4.30 earned run average and 56 strikeouts across 73 and one-third innings. He spent most of the 2025 season in the minors before being called up mid-season, though he struggled to an 8.04 earned run average in 12 appearances before landing on the injured list. He was claimed off waivers by Oakland in August and finished the year with Triple-A Las Vegas, where he went 0-2 with an 8.53 earned run average in limited action. The Cardinals signed him to a minor league deal in December, and he reported to Triple-A Memphis to begin 2026. St. Louis added him to the active roster in early April, but he made just two appearances before being designated for assignment. After clearing waivers, he returned to Memphis and was called up again in early May, recording four scoreless innings across two relief appearances before being sent down once more later that month.
Jared Shuster Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jared Shuster was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Bennett and Lori Shuster. He has a sister named Alexa. His hometown is New Bedford, Massachusetts. Shuster is Jewish, and he grew up cheering for the Boston Red Sox as a child. He attended New Bedford High School before transferring to Tabor Academy for his final two years of high school. He then played college baseball at Wake Forest University before beginning his professional career.
Personal Life
Shuster maintains connections to his Massachusetts roots. He played youth baseball in New Bedford before advancing through the amateur ranks. His athletic profile includes a 6.5-second 60-yard dash time, demonstrating his quickness and athleticism on the diamond.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season presented challenges for Shuster. He began the year with Triple-A Charlotte after being optioned to the minors at the start of the season. He received a call-up to the Chicago White Sox in April when roster space opened due to injury. Shuster appeared in 12 games for Chicago, struggling with an 8.04 earned run average and 12 strikeouts in 15 and two-thirds innings pitched. The White Sox placed him on the 15-day injured list in June due to a blister on his left hand. After completing a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte in early July, he returned from the injured list but did not reclaim a permanent spot on the major league roster. The White Sox designated him for assignment in August, and he was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics later that month. He finished the season with Triple-A Las Vegas in the Athletics organization before being released in December and signing with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.