Four-time MLB All-Star Ben Sheets joins M-Braves

PEARL, MS-Four-time Major League All-Star Ben Sheets was signed to a minor league contract by the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, July 1 and assigned to Double-A Mississippi. The right-handed pitcher is expected to make his first start with the M-Braves on Wednesday, July 4 at Trustmark Park.

Sheets, 33, has posted a career record of 90-92 with a 3.79 ERA over the course of nine seasons in the big leagues (eight with the Milwaukee Brewers). The Baton Rouge, LA, native has 1,290 career strikeouts in 241 MLB appearances (all starts). In seven of his nine big-league seasons, Sheets has posted double digits in the win column.

He was originally a first round draft pick (10th overall) by the Brewers in the 1999 amateur draft. In 2000, Sheets was named Brewers Minor League Player of the Year, posting a record of 8-8 with a 2.40 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Indianapolis.

Sheets pitched for Team USA in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as the top starter for manager Tommy Lasorda. In three starts, Sheets went 1-0 with a 0.41 ERA including a three-hit shutout against Cuba to earn the Gold Medal for the United States.

According to Baseball America, Sheets entered the 2001 season as the number one prospect in the Milwaukee organization. He made his Major League debut on April 5, 2001, at Houston and finished the season with an 11-10 record and a 4.76 ERA in 25 starts with the big league club.

In 2001, Sheets was one of just three rookies with 10 wins (Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia had 17 and Houston's Roy Oswalt had 14). He was also selected to the 2001 All-Star Game, becoming the first rookie in Brewers history to make the Midsummer Classic.

Sheets was named Brewers Most Valuable Pitcher in 2003, posting an 11-13 record with a 4.45 ERA in 34 starts. He tied for fourth in the National League with 220.2 innings pitched, thus becoming the first Brewer since Jaime Navarro (1992-3) to throw more than 200.0 innings in back-to-back seasons.

In 2004, Sheets ranked among National League leaders in strikeouts (2nd, 264), complete games (t-2nd, 5), ERA (3rd, 2.70) and innings pitched (t-3rd, 237.0). He broke the franchise record and the all-time Milwaukee baseball record (Braves and Brewers) for strikeouts in a season by surpassing Teddy Higuera (240 in 1987). He was also selected to his second All-Star Game.

Sheets was selected to his third All-Star Game in 2007. He recorded his 1,000th career strikeout on June 14 at Detroit, joining Higuera (1,081) as the only Brewers pitchers with 1,000 strikeouts. In 2008, Sheets recorded a career-high 13 wins and was selected to his fourth All-Star Game. He became the first in Brewers history to start the Midsummer Classic which was played at Yankee Stadium.

He was granted free agency on October 30, 2008. Sheets did not sign with another team and missed the entire 2009 season after undergoing right elbow surgery in February of that year. Sheets signed with the Oakland Athletics on January 26, 2010, and made 20 starts with the American League club (4-9, 4.53). After undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery in August, he was granted free agency again on November 1, 2010.

Today, the M-Braves continue a three-game series against the BayBears at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile after picking up the win in game one. On Independence Day, the Braves return to Trustmark Park for a six-game homestand against the Jackson Generals (July 4-6) and the Birmingham Barons (July 7-9). The Trustmark Park Box Office opens today at 9:00 AM. Fans can stop by or call 888-BRAVES4 to purchase tickets.