Shed Long Jr.

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Shed Long

| image = Shed Long (48035074691) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Long with the Seattle Mariners in 2019

| team = Cleburne Railroaders

| number = 4

| position = Second baseman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|8|22}}

| birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 11

| debutyear = 2019

| debutteam = Seattle Mariners

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = 2021 season

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .216

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 12

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 41

| teams =

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2021}})

}}

Shedric Bernard Long Jr. (born August 22, 1995) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners.

Professional career

=Cincinnati Reds=

Long attended Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Alabama. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 12th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.{{cite web |date=June 8, 2013 |title=Jacksonville's Shed Long was born to play ball. Now he'll do it for the Reds | Sports |url=http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/jacksonville-s-shed-long-was-born-to-play-ball-now/article_29a86ac3-c13f-5f1d-ab9c-bd7c449f1b2c.html |publisher=annistonstar.com |accessdate=June 21, 2017}} He made his professional debut that year with the Arizona League Reds, batting .256 with one home run and eight RBIs in 24 games, and played 2014 with the Billings Mustangs where he batted .172 in 29 games. After starting his professional career as a catcher, Long was converted into a second baseman in 2015.{{cite web |date=August 17, 2016 |title=FSL notes: Long sheds tools of ignorance |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-195862524 |publisher=Minor League Baseball |access-date=June 21, 2017}} He played 2015 with the Dayton Dragons where he compiled a .283 batting average with six home runs and 16 RBIs in 42 games. Long started 2016 with Dayton before being promoted to the Daytona Tortugas during the season.{{cite web |date=June 23, 2016 |title=Baseball: Jacksonville's Long doing big things in the minor leagues | Sports |url=http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/baseball-jacksonville-s-long-doing-big-things-in-the-minor/article_9080fa28-39af-11e6-ab2e-63d3330eefd6.html |publisher=annistonstar.com |accessdate=June 21, 2017}}{{cite web |date=August 2, 2016 |title=Cincinnati promotes Jacksonville's Long | The Jacksonville News |url=http://www.annistonstar.com/jacksonville_news/cincinnati-promotes-jacksonville-s-long/article_ecbebeca-58d0-11e6-8b81-5ba4af6b0ee1.html |publisher=annistonstar.com |accessdate=June 21, 2017}} In 132 total games between the two teams, he slashed .293/.371/.471 with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs along with 21 stolen bases. In 2017, he played for both Daytona and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, collecting a combined .281 batting average with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs in 104 total games between both clubs.{{cite web |title=Shed Long Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |url=https://www.milb.com/player/shed-long-jr-643418 |publisher=Minor League Baseball |access-date=March 25, 2018}}

The Reds added Long to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.{{cite web |date=November 20, 2017 |title=Cincinnati Reds protect Shed Long, Jose Siri and four others from the Rule 5 Draft |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2017/11/20/reds-protect-shed-long-jose-siri-and-four-others-rule-5-draft/883512001/ |publisher=Cincinnati.com |accessdate=August 5, 2018}} He spent the 2018 season with Pensacola, batting .261 with 12 home runs and 56 RBIs in 126 games.{{cite web |title=Shed Long Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |url=https://www.milb.com/player/shed-long-jr-643418 |access-date=October 16, 2018}}

= Seattle Mariners =

On January 21, 2019, the Reds traded Long and a compensation draft pick in the 2019 MLB draft to the New York Yankees for Sonny Gray and Reiver Sanmartin.{{cite web |date=January 21, 2019 |title=Yankees trade Shed Long to Mariners for Josh Stowers after Sonny Gray trade |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2019/01/21/new-york-yankees-trade-shed-long-seattle-mariners-josh-stowers/2639322002/ |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=northjersey.com}} The Yankees then traded Long to the Seattle Mariners for Josh Stowers.{{cite web | last=Cotterill | first=TJ | title=Mariners add to prospect haul, acquire infielder in swap with Reds, Yankees | website=Tacoma News Tribune | date=21 January 2019 | url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/article224874210.html | access-date=2 December 2023}}

Long began the 2019 season with the Tacoma Rainiers.[https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/article229111624.html Where does Mariners prospect Shed Long feel most comfortable? Right now, it’s in the batter’s box] thenewstribune.com On May 10, he was called up to the major league roster for the first time.{{cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Jason |date=May 10, 2019 |title=Former Reds prospect Shed Long called up by Mariners – relive his journey to MLB here |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2019/05/10/podcast-shed-longs-journey-major-league-baseball-cincinnati-reds-seattle-mariners-trent-rosecrans/1163908001/ |website=Cincinnati.com |publisher=Cincinnati Enquirer |accessdate=May 10, 2019}} He made his major league debut on May 11 versus the Boston Red Sox.{{cite web |title=Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox Box Score, May 11, 2019 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS201905110.shtml |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=May 12, 2019}} In 42 games for Seattle, Long hit .263 with 5 home runs. In 2020, Long's offensive output dipped as he finished hitting only .171 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI. On September 22, 2020, Long underwent surgery on his right tibia to repair a stress fracture in his right shin, prematurely ending his 2020 season.{{cite web|author=Steve Adams |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/shed-long-undergoes-surgery-on-right-tibia.html |title=Shed Long Undergoes Surgery On Right Tibia |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=2020-09-28 |accessdate=2022-05-14}}

On April 27, 2021, Long was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from the injury.{{cite web|author=Steve Adams |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/mariners-claim-jack-mayfield-waivers-angels.html |title=Mariners Claim Jack Mayfield |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=2021-04-27 |accessdate=2022-05-14}} On June 7, Long was activated off of the injured list.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/mariners-announce-roster-moves.html |title=Mariners Option Jarred Kelenic |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=2021-06-07 |accessdate=2022-05-14}} He hit a walk-off grand slam on June 20, 2021, in the bottom of the tenth inning that gave the Mariners a 6–2 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web |date=June 20, 2021 |title=Shed Long Jr. hits 10th-inning grand slam as Mariners sweep Rays |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/baseball-mlb-sea-tb/shed-long-jr-hits-10th-inning-grand-slam-as-mariners-sweep-rays-idUSMTZXEH6L0YT6S4 |website=Reuters}} On August 2, Long was placed back on the injured list with a right shin stress reaction, and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 28, ending his season.{{cite web|author=RotoWire Staff |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mariners-shed-long-moved-to-60-day-il/#:~:text=The%20Mariners%20transferred%20Long%20(lower,on%20the%20injured%20list%20Aug |title=Mariners' Shed Long: Moved to 60-day IL |publisher=CBSSports.com |date= |accessdate=2022-05-14}} On October 22, Long was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.{{Cite web|url=https://marinersblog.mlblogs.com/mariners-make-6-roster-moves-7437e05bb193|title=Mariners Make 6 Roster Moves|first=Mariners|last=PR|date=October 22, 2021|website=Medium}} He elected free agency on November 7.

=Baltimore Orioles=

On February 16, 2022, Long signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.{{cite web |date=February 16, 2022 |title=Orioles, Shed Long Agree To Minor League Deal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/orioles-shed-long-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html |website=MLB Trade Rumors}} He appeared in 31 games split between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Orioles, Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, and Triple-A Norfolk Tides. In 99 at-bats, Long hit .192/.316/.263 with no home runs and 12 RBI. He was released by the Orioles organization on August 16.

=High Point Rockers=

On April 28, 2023, Long signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/|title=Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions|website=www.atlanticleague.com|accessdate=December 2, 2023}} In 95 games for the Rockers, he batted .307/.394/.487 with 13 home runs, 59 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. Following the season, Long was named an Atlantic League All–Star.{{Cite web|title=Atlantic League names 2023 Postseason All-Star Team|url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/news/?article_id=2415|access-date=December 26, 2023|website=atlanticleague.com|language=en}}

=Olmecas de Tabasco=

On April 8, 2024, Long signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 8 de abril de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-8-de-abril-de-2024|access-date=April 9, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} In three games for Tabasco, he went 0–for–6 with no walks. Long was released by Tabasco on April 19.{{Cite web|title=Shed Long Jr. Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/shed-long-jr-643418|access-date=April 29, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}}

=Cleburne Railroaders=

On April 29, 2024, Long signed with the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB).{{Cite web|title= 2024 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/2024-transactions/|access-date=April 29, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}} In 95 games he hit .310/.409/.467 with 9 home runs, 74 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. While on the Railroaders, Long was loaned to the AAPB's Kane County Cougars to participate in the 2025 Baseball Champions League Americas.{{cite tweet|number=1907076594767708217|title=The official @KCCougars roster for the #BaseballChampionsLeague in Mexico City 🇲🇽|publisher=American Association of Professional Baseball|date=April 1, 2025|user=AA_Baseball}}{{cite press release|url=https://aabaseball.com/2025-baseball-champions-league-info/|title=2025 Baseball Champions League Info|publisher=American Association of Professional Baseball|date=April 7, 2025}}