Matt Shoemaker

Shoemaker attended Trenton High School in Trenton, Michigan, graduating in 2004.{{Cite web |last=Nunez |first=Jessica |date=September 20, 2013 |title=Trenton Grad Makes MLB Debut |url=http://patch.com/michigan/trenton-grosseile/trenton-grad-makes-mlb-debut-tonight |access-date=June 19, 2016 |website=Patch Media}} He then enrolled at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where he played college baseball for the Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball team in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I. In 2007, as a sophomore, he saved 14 games for EMU, and was named to the All-MAC's second team.{{Cite web |title=The Official Website of Eastern Michigan Athletics |url=http://www.emueagles.com/news/2007/5/23/cmubasemactorn.052407.aspx |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=emueagles.com}} He tied for fifth in NCAA Division I in saves, setting the EMU single-season record in the process.{{Cite web |date=July 3, 2014 |title=Undrafted EMU alum Matt Shoemaker proving he belongs in Los Angeles Angels' rotation |url=http://www.mlive.com/eagles/index.ssf/2014/07/undrafted_emu_alum_matt_shoema.html |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=MLive.com}} He moved back to the rotation in 2008, his junior season.{{Cite web |title=California League notebook - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-10714314 |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Minor League Baseball}} As a junior, Shoemaker pitched to a 6-7 win–loss record with a 4.83 earned run average in 15 games pitched. He graduated from EMU after his junior year, forgoing his final year of college eligibility.

Shoemaker played for the United States national baseball team in the 2011 Baseball World Cup and 2011 Pan American Games, winning the silver medal.{{Cite news |last=Emrich |first=Robert |date=October 26, 2011 |title=Van Ostrand, Canada take Pan Am gold |publisher=Minor League Baseball |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-25795034 |access-date=January 12, 2012 |archive-date=October 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030083452/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111025&content_id=25795034&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb |url-status=live }}

In the 2008 MLB Draft, Shoemaker went unselected. He played collegiate summer baseball in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, where he was scouted and signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2009 |title=Matt Shoemaker joins Kernels from Tempe |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3812677 |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=oursportscentral.com}} He received a $10,000 signing bonus.{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2014 |title=Matt Shoemaker goes from overlooked, undrafted to Angels starting pitcher |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/matt-shoemaker-goes-from-overlooked--undrafted-to-angels-starting-pitcher-160211401.html |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Yahoo Sports}} Shoemaker began the 2009 season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Single–A Midwest League as a relief pitcher. After pitching to a 1-0 record and a 6.57 ERA in his first seven games, they demoted him to extended spring training in May.{{Cite web |title=2 more roster moves for Kernels |url=http://thegazette.com/2009/05/18/2-more-roster-moves-for-kernels/ |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=The Gazette}} He returned to Cedar Rapids in June.{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Jeff | title=Kernels make 2 roster moves | website=The Gazette | date=2009-06-14 | url=https://www.thegazette.com/2009/06/14/kernels-make-2-roster-moves/ | access-date=2024-12-29}} Shoemaker pitched for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the High–A California League in 2010.

Shoemaker began the 2011 season with the Salt Lake Bees of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, and was demoted to the Arkansas Travelers of the Double–A Texas League in May.{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2011 |title=Shoemaker weathers demotion |url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/may/03/shoemaker-weathers-demotion-20110503/ |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Arkansas Online}} He appeared in the Texas League All-Star Game in June.{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2011 |title=Nine Travelers named to all-star game |url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/jun/14/nine-travelers-named-all-star-game-20110614/?sports |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Arkansas Online}} He was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year and the Angels' Minor League Pitcher of the Year, after leading the league with 12 wins, a 2.21 ERA, and 1.03 walks plus hits per inning pitched.{{Cite web |title=The Official Website of Eastern Michigan Athletics |url=http://www.emueagles.com/news/2011/10/16/BB_1016114701.aspx |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=emueagles.com}}{{Cite web |title=Trout, Miller, Green among Texas Stars - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-23769006 |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Minor League Baseball}}

The Angels invited Shoemaker to spring training with the Angels in 2012, receiving an opportunity to compete for the open fifth starter role for the Angels.{{Cite web |title=Scioscia: Fifth-starter spot an open audition |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120219&content_id=26755628¬ebook_id=26755652&vkey=notebook_ana&c_id=ana |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Angels}} He pitched for Salt Lake during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.{{Cite web |title=Utah Local News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Archive - The Salt Lake Tribune |url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/53925749-77/lake-salt-bees-shoemaker.html.csp |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=sltrib.com}}{{Cite web |title=Utah Local News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Archive - The Salt Lake Tribune |url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/56760596-77/lake-salt-bees-shoemaker.html.csp |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=sltrib.com}}

On September 15, 2013, the Angels promoted Shoemaker to the major leagues.{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2013 |title=Former EMU Baseball player called up to the bigs |url=http://www.hustlebelt.com/2013/9/16/4736148/former-emu-baseball-player-called-up-to-the-bigs |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Hustle Belt}} He made his MLB debut on September 20, allowing no runs and striking out five batters to record a win.

Shoemaker made the Angels' 2014 Opening Day roster as a relief pitcher. He earned a spot in the Angels' starting rotation during the season.{{Cite web |last=Los Angeles Times |date=August 31, 2014 |title=Angels' Matt Shoemaker keeps shutting 'em down |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-athletics-elliott-20140901-column.html |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Shoemaker won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Month and Pitcher of the Month Awards.{{Cite web |title=Matt Shoemaker named the A.L. Pitcher of the Month and A.L. Rookie of the Month |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-shoemaker-named-the-al-pitcher-of-the-month-and-al-rookie-of-the-month/c-92937650 |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Major League Baseball}} On September 10, 2014, Shoemaker earned his 15th win – a new Angels' rookie record.{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Alden |date=September 10, 2014 |title=With win, Halos' streak at seven, magic number at nine |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_09_10_anamlb_texmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=ana |access-date=September 10, 2014 |website=MLB.com}} He suffered a strained rib cage the next week,{{Cite web |last=Los Angeles Times |date=September 16, 2014 |title=Angels' Matt Shoemaker has rib-cage strain, will miss next start |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-angels-matt-shoemaker-injury-20140916-story.html |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times}} and recovered in time for the MLB postseason.{{Cite web |last=Los Angeles Times |date=September 30, 2014 |title=Angels' Matt Shoemaker, Josh Hamilton good to go for playoffs |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-angels-matt-shoemaker-josh-hamilton-good-for-playoffs-20140930-story.html |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Shoemaker finished the season with a 16-4 record with 124 strikeouts in 136 innings pitched.{{Cite web |last=Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press |date=November 10, 2014 |title=Trenton's Matt Shoemaker second in AL rookie of year voting |url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2014/11/10/matt-shoemaker-los-angeles-angels-second-rookie-year/18832405/ |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Detroit Free Press}} He took second place, behind José Abreu, in AL Rookie of the Year Award voting.{{Cite web |last=Los Angeles Times |date=November 10, 2014 |title=Jose Abreu wins AL rookie of year award; Angels' Matt Shoemaker second |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-al-rookie-of-year-20141110-story.html |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times}} After the season, Shoemaker appeared in the 2014 Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series, getting the win in a game against the Japanese All-Star team.{{Cite web |last=Detroit Free Press News Services |date=November 19, 2014 |title=Nation & world: EMU's Matt Shoemaker gets win for MLB All-Stars in Japan |url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2014/11/19/nation-world/19260671/ |access-date=February 22, 2015 |website=Detroit Free Press}}

After his solid 2014 season, Shoemaker opened 2015 as the Angels #3 starter. He experienced inconsistency throughout the 2015 campaign, leading to his demotion to Triple-A Salt Lake on August 16.{{Cite web |last=DiGiovanna |first=Mike |date=August 16, 2015 |title=Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker sent down to the minors |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-royals-20150817-story.html |access-date=August 17, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times}} He was called up when rosters expanded in September. Shoemaker finished 7-10 with a 4.46 ERA in 24 starts. Shoemaker began the 2016 season in the Angels rotation but after posting an ERA of 9.15 in 5 starts, the Angels sent him down to AAA. He was called up a week later after an injury to Garrett Richards.

On September 4, 2016, against the Seattle Mariners, Shoemaker was struck in the head by a 105 mph line drive and left the game. The impact left Shoemaker with a small skull fracture and small hematoma. The injury eventually ended his 2016 season. The same night, he underwent surgery on his skull to stop the bleeding.

Shoemaker's 2017 season was cut short due to injury for the second straight season. He pitched in 14 starts with a 6-3 record. Shoemaker, with continued better health, began the 2018 season in the rotation but was soon placed on the disabled list with a forearm injury, the same injury that sidelined him the previous season. He began a throwing program at the end of April.{{Cite news |date=April 23, 2018 |title=Angels' Matt Shoemaker: Begins throwing program |work=CBSSports.com |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/angels-matt-shoemaker-begins-throwing-program/ |access-date=September 29, 2020}} He was placed on the 60 day disabled list after undergoing forearm surgery on May 13.{{Cite news |last=Rice |first=David |title=Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker gets bad news |work=Halohangout.com |url=https://halohangout.com/2018/05/11/los-angeles-angels-pitcher-matt-shoemaker-gets-bad-news/ |access-date=September 29, 2020}} He made his return to the rotation at the end of the season, finishing the 2018 season with a 2-2 record in 7 starts.

On November 30, 2018, the Angels non-tendered Shoemaker, making him a free agent.{{Cite web |last=Torres |first=Maria |date=December 2018 |title=Angels decline to offer contracts to pitchers Matt Shoemaker and Blake Parker |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-arbitration-20181130-story.html |access-date=December 1, 2018 |website=Los Angeles Times}}

On December 28, 2018, Shoemaker signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.{{Cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Gregor |date=December 28, 2018 |title=Blue Jays ink Matt Shoemaker to 1-year deal |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-matt-shoemaker-agree-to-1-year-deal/c-302237612 |access-date=January 3, 2019 |website=MLB.com}}

On March 29, 2019, he made his Blue Jays debut, throwing seven scoreless innings and earning the win against the Detroit Tigers.{{Cite web |last=Gregor Chisholm |date=March 29, 2019 |title=Shoemaker heads shutout in sparkling debut |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-shoemaker-throws-seven-scoreless-vs-tigers |access-date=April 4, 2019 |website=MLB.com}} On April 20, Shoemaker left a game against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning after injuring his left knee in a rundown play. An MRI revealed he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and would miss the rest of the season. Before the injury, he had a 3–0 record with a 1.57 ERA through five starts.{{Cite web |last=Haft |first=Chris |date=April 21, 2019 |title=Shoemaker (torn ACL) to miss rest of season |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-shoemaker-injured-list-urena-recalled |access-date=April 26, 2019 |website=MLB.com}}

With the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays, Shoemaker appeared in 6 games, compiling a 0-1 record with 4.71 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched.{{Cite web |title=Matt Shoemaker Stats, Fantasy & News |website=MLB.com |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-shoemaker-533167}}

On February 15, 2021, Shoemaker signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Minnesota Twins.{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2021 |title=Twins sign Matt Shoemaker to one-year contract |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-twins-sign-matt-shoemaker-to-one-year-contract |access-date=June 4, 2022 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Shoemaker won his first start of the season and authored a mediocre start following it. He lost his next two starts before recording, in his words, "the worst start of [his] career", giving up 9 runs (8 earned) in 3.1 innings to the Royals. After briefly recovering and picking up his second win, he lost his next 3 decisions, the last another poor start against the Royals that propelled his ERA to 5.90. On June 4, he recorded the worst start of his career, surrendering 9 runs to the Royals again (8 of them earned) while recording just one out before being removed from the game; the appearance ballooned his season ERA from 5.90 to 7.38.{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2021 |title=Matt Shoemaker rocked as Twins blown out by Royals |url=https://www.twincities.com/2021/06/04/matt-shoemaker-rocked-as-twins-blown-out-by-royals/ |access-date=June 19, 2022 |website=Twin Cities |language=en-US}} Relegated to the bullpen a week later, he continued to struggle in a relief role before briefly rebounding on the June 21 and 24. After authoring another brutal appearance on June 30 - surrendering 8 earned runs in a relief appearance of just 2.2 innings{{Cite web |title=Matt Shoemaker 2021 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=shoemma01&t=p&year=2021 |access-date=June 19, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} - he was designated for assignment by the Twins the next day with a season ERA of 8.06.{{Cite web |title=Twins Designate Matt Shoemaker For Assignment |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/twins-dfa-matt-shoemaker.html |website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=July 2021 }} On July 5, Shoemaker cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=July 5, 2021 |title=Twins Outright Matt Shoemaker |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/twins-outright-matt-shoemaker.html |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}} On August 3, Shoemaker was released by the Twins.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=August 3, 2021 |title=Twins Release Matt Shoemaker |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/twins-release-matt-shoemaker.html |access-date=June 4, 2022 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

On August 7, 2021, Shoemaker signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web |last=Polishuk |first=Mike |date=August 7, 2021 |title=Giants Sign Tyler Chatwood, Matt Shoemaker To Minors Contracts |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/giants-sign-tyler-chatwood-matt-shoemaker-to-minors-contracts.html |access-date=June 4, 2022 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

On February 28, 2022, Shoemaker signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=February 15, 2022 |title=Matt Shoemaker Reportedly Nearing Deal With NPB's Yomiuri Giants |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/matt-shoemaker-nearing-deal-with-npbs-yomiuri-giants.html |access-date=June 4, 2022 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He became a free agent following the 2022 season.

Shoemaker and his wife, Danielle, have been married since 2009 and have a son and a daughter together.

Shoemaker has a full beard.{{Cite news |last=Hards |first=Bob |date=July 9, 2011 |title=Shoemaker Shuts Hounds Down |work=Minor League Baseball |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-21644202 |access-date=February 22, 2015}} The Arkansas Travelers commemorated Shoemaker's beard with a T-shirt {{Cite web |title=Giveaways Galore As Travs Host Eight Game Stand |url=http://www.milb.com/documents/2012/05/09/30816170/1/Fourth_Homestand__May_14_-_21_.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930175352/http://www.milb.com/documents/2012/05/09/30816170/1/Fourth_Homestand__May_14_-_21_.pdf |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |publisher=Arkansas Travelers}} and with a removable goatee.{{Cite web |title=Travs Host First Round of Texas League Playoffs |url=http://www.milb.com/documents/2011/08/31/23995744/1/First_Round_Playoffs.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191404/http://www.milb.com/documents/2011/08/31/23995744/1/First_Round_Playoffs.pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |publisher=Arkansas Travelers}}

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada

Category:Arizona League Angels players

Category:Arkansas Travelers players

Category:Baseball players at the 2011 Pan American Games

Category:Cedar Rapids Kernels players

Category:Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball players

Category:Los Angeles Angels players

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Minnesota Twins players

Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela

Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in baseball

Category:Sportspeople from Wyandotte, Michigan

Category:Baseball players from Wayne County, Michigan

Category:Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players

Category:Sacramento River Cats players

Category:Salt Lake Bees players

Category:St. Paul Saints players

Category:Toronto Blue Jays players

Category:United States national baseball team players

Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games