Jared Shuster Bio
Jared Craig Shuster is an American professional baseball pitcher who has pitched in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox. He currently plays in the St. Louis Cardinals organization after signing a minor league deal in late 2025. A former first-round draft pick out of Wake Forest University, he debuted in the majors in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Jared Craig 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. Growing up in New Bedford, his favorite Major League Baseball team was the Boston Red Sox, and he is Jewish.
He attended New Bedford High School before transferring to Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, graduating in 2017. As a freshman at New Bedford High School, he posted a 6-0 record with a 0.45 earned run average while throwing in the mid-80s. At Tabor Academy, he continued to develop, finishing his senior year with a 4-3 record, a 1.26 ERA, and 64 strikeouts in 39 innings while serving as team captain. He also batted .347 with four home runs as a senior and played basketball.
Path to Baseball
After high school, Shuster played college baseball at Wake Forest University for the Demon Deacons. As a freshman he struggled to a 0-3 record with a 7.41 ERA, but he improved as a sophomore to 4-4 with a 6.49 ERA, recording 94 strikeouts in 68 innings and earning Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week honors twice.
He spent his summers sharpening his craft in collegiate baseball, first with the New Bedford Bay Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2018, where he posted a 2.76 ERA with a league-leading 62 strikeouts in 49 innings. The following summer he joined the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, going 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA and earning All-Star recognition. His strong junior year at Wake Forest in the COVID-shortened 2020 season cemented his status as a top prospect.
Jared Shuster Career
Early Career (2020-2022)
The Atlanta Braves selected Shuster in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft with the 25th overall pick. He signed for a bonus of $2,197,500, with the savings helping the Braves sign Bryce Elder. Though included in the team’s 60-player pool during the shortened 2020 season, he did not appear in a game.
He began 2021 at Single-A Rome before earning a promotion to Double-A Mississippi, finishing the year 2-0 with a 4.44 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 73 innings, earning MiLB.com Organization All-Star honors. In 2022, he opened the year at Mississippi, where he struck out eight consecutive Biloxi Shuckers batters to tie a Southern League record on April 16. Selected for the All-Star Futures Game, he went 6-7 with a 2.78 ERA and 106 strikeouts across 90.2 innings, then finished the year at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Atlanta Braves Era (2023)
Shuster began 2023 as the top-ranked prospect in the Braves organization, and he made Atlanta’s Opening Day roster after Kyle Wright went on the injured list. He lost his MLB debut on April 2 against the Washington Nationals, giving up four first-inning runs over 4.2 innings. He secured his first big league win on May 21 against the Seattle Mariners, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out seven in six innings.
In 11 starts with the Braves, he went 4-3 with a 5.81 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 52.2 innings. On November 16, 2023, Atlanta traded Shuster, along with Michael Soroka, Nicky Lopez, Braden Shewmake, and Riley Gowens, to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Aaron Bummer.
Chicago White Sox Era (2024-2025)
Shuster opened 2024 with Triple-A Charlotte before being called up on April 8 to make his White Sox debut as a reliever against Cleveland. He bounced between Charlotte and Chicago throughout the year, ultimately making 39 appearances (four starts) with a 2-5 record, 4.30 ERA, and 56 strikeouts across 73.1 innings.
Optioned to Charlotte again to begin 2025, he returned to the majors on April 19 and struggled to an 8.04 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 15.2 innings across 12 appearances. A blister on his left hand sent him to the 15-day injured list in June, and on August 13, the White Sox designated him for assignment. On August 15, the Athletics claimed him off waivers and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he went 0-2 with an 8.53 ERA. After being removed from the 40-man roster, the Athletics released him on December 10.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2025-Present)
On December 22, 2025, Shuster signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. He will look to work his way back to the majors and contribute to a Cardinals club seeking depth in its pitching ranks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Shuster relies on a sinking two-seam fastball and a riding four-seam fastball that sits at 92-94 mph and tops out at 97 mph. His best pitch is an 80 mph changeup thrown more than 10 mph slower than his fastball, which has generated a strong whiff rate. He also features an improving slider and is considered athletic, running a 6.5-second 60-yard dash.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Shuster tied a Southern League record by striking out eight consecutive batters on April 16, 2022, and was selected for the All-Star Futures Game that same season. He was a first-round draft pick in 2020 and made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2023 before becoming part of the trade that sent Aaron Bummer to Atlanta.
Jared Shuster Career Wins
Jared Craig Shuster has compiled a modest but steady win total across the minors and majors since being drafted in 2020. His most significant victories have come during his stints in Double-A Mississippi and in his 2023 rookie season with Atlanta.
Major League Highlights
Shuster earned his first MLB win on May 21, 2023, against the Seattle Mariners, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out seven in six innings. He finished that rookie campaign 4-3 with the Braves before going 2-5 with the White Sox across 2024 and 2025.
Jared Shuster Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jared Craig Shuster is the son of Bennett and Lori Shuster. He has a sister named Alexa, and his hometown is New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Personal Life
Shuster is Jewish and stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 210 pounds. As a child, his favorite MLB team was the Boston Red Sox, reflecting his New England roots.
2025 Season Performance
Shuster began 2025 with Triple-A Charlotte after being optioned by the White Sox. He was recalled on April 19 following Martín Pérez’s placement on the injured list, but he struggled to an 8.04 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 15.2 innings in 12 appearances. A blister on his left hand landed him on the 15-day injured list in June, and he was designated for assignment on August 13.
Claimed off waivers by the Athletics on August 15, Shuster was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he posted an 0-2 record and 8.53 ERA in 12.2 innings. On November 5, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Las Vegas before being released on December 10.
On December 22, Shuster signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, providing him a fresh opportunity to rebuild his stock heading into 2026.