Sheldon Neuse: Learning the Ropes in Nashville

by Bill Craig / A’s Farm Nashville Correspondent

The Nationals considered Sheldon Neuse a very promising young prospect when they selected the infielder with their 2nd-round pick in the 2016 draft. But the A’s were able to persuade Washington to part with him, as well as pitchers Blake Treinen and Jesus Luzardo, in last summer’s deal for relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson.

Upon joining the A’s system, the Texas native was initially assigned to the Stockton Ports. But he performed so well in his first few weeks in the California League that he was quickly promoted to Double-A Midland for the last few weeks of the season. Over 117 games in the A’s and Nationals’ systems last season, Neuse put up a solid .321/.382/.502 slash line while splitting time between third base and shortstop.

Neuse continued to look strong in the Arizona Fall League, where he slashed .314/.366/.570 in 22 games for the Mesa Solar Sox. And as a non-roster invitee for the A’s in spring training, Neuse didn’t miss the opportunity to impress. He led the team with 5 home runs and 15 RBIs while slashing .310/.375/.621 over 58 spring at-bats for the A’s.

Despite only appearing in 18 regular-season games at the Double-A level, the A’s assigned the 23-year-old to Triple-A Nashville to start the 2018 season, where he’s started 17 of the Sounds’ first 24 games at third base while putting up a .141/.232/.169 slash line over the month of April.

A’s Farm last checked in with Neuse in the Arizona Fall League last fall – which you can find here. But last weekend, Neuse took a little time to talk with us just shortly after participating in batting practice and getting a little personal instruction from Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who happened to be in town spending some time with the Sounds…

 
AF:  You had a great spring training your first time in big league camp with the A’s this year. What was the key to your spring success?

SN:  I think just staying constant with my approach. I wasn’t missing too many pitches in the zone. Just relaxing out there and having fun and just playing the game.

AF:  Since you were a new guy in camp and one of the younger guys there, were there any guys on the team who particularly helped you out or took you under their wing a bit in the spring?

SN:  All the guys there. It’s not really an old team with a lot of veteran guys, but there are some. I just watched how they go about their business and approached each and every day. Of course, spring isn’t quite like what it is in season, but you get to see how they approached their work days and what they do to prepare themselves to get ready for the game. I think that was kind of the biggest thing for me was seeing how they attacked each day – getting themselves ready, seeing them tweaking things here and there, if they have something that’s going good just staying constant with their routines. Then talking to them about…how they approach things, and if they do get in a scuff, what do they think about and how do they get out of that. I talked to all the guys to get a feel of what it takes to make it up there.

AF:  Have you had to make any particular adjustments since you’ve been here in Triple-A?

SN:  I think I have. I’ve been working on it. I’ve started out slow right now, but I’m sticking with it and trying to tweak some things here and there and getting back to being constant and squaring the baseball up and driving them. You can’t panic this early in the year, so I’m just trying to get constant at the plate.

AF:  Do you find that the pitchers approach you any differently here at this level?

SN:  I don’t think so. I’m a little out of tune right now and think I’m missing some pitches I should be hitting. I’m not quite getting there – so just figuring out why I’m missing those. So figure that out and make sure I’m able to repeat that.

AF:  There was a lot of talk in the spring that the A’s wanted to move you around and have you play a bunch of different positions this year, including the outfield, but so far you’ve mainly just been playing third base this season. Do you have a preference where you play in the field?

SN:  Anywhere. I’m comfortable anywhere.

AF:  Had you ever spent any time in Nashville before coming here this season? What do you think of life in Nashville so far?

SN:  I had passed through I think once or twice but never stayed. It’s a neat little town with a lot of stuff to do. I’m happy to be here but, you know, there’s always somewhere else to be. It’s a nice town.

AF:  When you were growing up in Texas, were there any particular players you really admired or tried to model yourself after?

SN:  I grew up watching a lot of Michael Young. His approach and what he was able to do at the plate, it was something I thought was impressive to drive balls the other way like that, yet being able to pull balls for pop too. I try to play that way as well. I don’t think my strength is being able to go to right-center. I’m a little away from that right now, but that’s who I model my hitting after.

AF:  When your hopefully long playing career in baseball is over, what fact or stat would you like to see on the back of your baseball card?

SN:  I really don’t look at that too much. I don’t follow stats. To me, the results are going to take care of themselves. If you are putting in the right work and doing the right thing, the results eventually come. I’m one of those guys, if I lined out, it’s not like I didn’t do my job as a hitter – all I can do is hit it hard. It’s me against eight guys, so the odds aren’t in my favor. I want to be known as a good teammate, a guy who likes to have fun, played the game the right way and respected it.

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