Terry Shumpert facts for kids

Terrance Darnell Shumpert (born August 16, 1966) is an American who used to play professional baseball. He was a versatile player, meaning he could play many different positions on the field. Terry played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. Before turning pro, he played college baseball at the University of Kentucky.

College Baseball Star

Terry Shumpert was a key player for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team. He played in the middle of the infield for three years. In 1987, he was named an All-American at second base. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country.

He also earned first-team All-SEC honors in both 1986 and 1987. The SEC is a major college sports conference. In 1987, he was part of the SEC All-Tournament Team too.

Terry had a fantastic sophomore year in 1986. He hit for a .364 batting average, which is very good. He also had 19 doubles, 10 home runs, and 37 runs batted in (RBI). Plus, he stole 28 bases. His junior year in 1987 was also impressive. He hit .376 with 19 doubles, 9 home runs, and 32 stolen bases. His batting average in 1987 is still one of the best in Kentucky's history.

Playing in Major League Baseball

The Kansas City Royals picked Terry Shumpert in the second round of the 1987 MLB Draft. He made his big league debut on May 1, 1990, with the Royals. Terry played in Major League Baseball until the 2003 season.

During his MLB career, Terry played in 854 games. He had a career batting average of .252. He also hit 49 home runs, had 223 RBI, and stole 85 bases. He played for several teams, including the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Terry's Family in Baseball

Terry Shumpert's son, Nick Shumpert, also plays professional baseball. Nick is a shortstop. The Detroit Tigers drafted him in 2015. He later signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2016. Nick currently plays for the Sioux City Explorers.

Many people thought that baseball star Mookie Betts was Terry's nephew. However, they are actually first cousins once removed. This means Terry is a first cousin to Mookie's mother, Diana. Terry even worked with Mookie in 2004 when Mookie was playing for the Nashville Sounds.

Images for kids

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  Nick Shumpert with the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2021