Injury, draft rejection haven't stopped Penn's Shannon

The former Quakers first baseman and pitcher has seen time at third as well as first during his stay in extended spring training. By Srikanth Redd The Daily Pennsylvanian Right now, life is a beach for Mike Shannon. Literally. "I kind of like doing this," Shannon said. "Yesterday we got off at 2 p.m. Then I went to the beach. I had a good time." At the moment, Shannon is in Clearwater, Fla., taking part in extended spring training --and taking in a little sun -- as a prospect in the depths of the Philadelphia Phillies' organization. If he weren't doing this, "I'd probably be working somewhere," Shannon said. Baseball surely beats that, even if it's only for $850 a month. Especially because not so long ago, it looked as if Shannon might not get his shot at the pros. Shannon, the 1996 Ivy League Player of the Year, left his name all over the Penn baseball record book. His .444 batting average last year was the second-best season at the plate by any Quaker ever, and his 63 hits last season have only been bettered by his 70 hits in 1995. He also drove in 47 runs as a junior, tied for second-most in a year. Last season, in addition to his exploits at the plate, Shannon was 4-1 as a pitcher with a 3.89 earned run average. Despite all of his success,however, his final season did not end like he wanted it to. Shannon injured his right hand in mysterious circumstances late in the campaign, forcing him to miss the final games of Penn's season. The injury also probably scared away any Major League teams that would have chosen him in the amateur draft. "He would have been drafted," Quakers coach Bob Seddon said. "I don't think he would have been drafted at a low number, but he would have been drafted." Instead, Shannon was left to recover from his injury and hope that some club would sign him as a free agent. That's exactly what happened in January, when the Phillies inked him to a one-year minor league deal. "I didn't send out any resumes," said Shannon, who worked out and tended bar at Smokey Joe's while he waited. "This was my goal -- to rehabilitate and get signed." Shannon made his way to Clearwater in the spring, and he had at least two things to concentrate on right away. One was his position in the field. Although Shannon played first base during most of his Penn career, the Phillies signed him as a third baseman. But making the switch hasn't been difficult, according to Shannon. In fact, he's now alternating between first and third, and he played first base throughout spring training. "I know how to play third base," said Shannon, who pointed out that he came to Penn as a shortstop and played his first nine games here at third. "It's not a big adjustment." A bit more challenging was the difference in pitching between college and the pros, with more speed and better breaking pitches. Seddon thought it would be the biggest adjustment Shannon would have to make, but his former player seems to have already made it. "In the Ivy League, a fastball might be 80 or 85 miles an hour," Shannon said. "Here everything is around 90. After a week of seeing it, it's normal. I'm pretty much used to it now." Indeed, Shannon said he hit over .350 during spring training with one home run and a few doubles and triples. He still can't fully close his right fist, but it apparently hasn't affected his swing. Shannon did so well, that he had hopes of heading north with the Phillies' long-season single-A affiliate in Piedmont, N.C., which he played for during the spring. But the organization told him when he signed that he would spend this year playing short-season A ball in Batavia, N.Y., and that's what he'll do. "I was disappointed that I wasn't going with [Piedmont]," Shannon said. "There was a trickle-down effect after the big-league club ended their 40-man roster, and a couple guys got bumped." So Shannon will remain in Clearwater until June 6, when he will move on to Batavia. Until then, he'll spend his days taking infield and batting practice and playing games against other organizations' extended spring training squads. Nobody from the Phillies has told Shannon where he fits into the organization's plans, or how far up the ladder he can go. It should be noted that the Phils' current young third baseman, Scott Rolen, is considered a can't-miss kid. "You just go about your business," Shannon said. "They told us someone might get hurt at first base or third base in [AAA] Reading, and to be ready for that." Seddon thinks Shannon's age could work against him. He's 22, and most players make it to the majors by the time they're 25 or 26. "He's got to move quick," Seddon said. "He needs to stay healthy and put some numbers on the board, because he won't get a long look, because of his age." For his part, Shannon says he just wants to prove this year that he's a legitimate prospect, and that the Phillies did not make a mistake in signing him. And even if he never makes it to the Show, he's having a good time. "I think it could be worse," Shannon said. "I could be behind a desk somewhere."