Grant Shepardson supported by family, best friend en route to MLB Draft selection

[Alex Carver]

Grant Shepardson became a fifth-round pick of the Marlins this past week by way of great stuff and an even better support system. His older brother, Blake Shepardson, was selected by the White Sox in the 11th round.

This past week at the MLB Draft, the Marlins had a plan: buy into the long-term future early, often, and regularly. With their first two picks, the Marlins took prep position players who will be on solid trajectory to make a big league impact in the next 4-5 years. After going with three collegiate picks their next three rounds to manage their signing bonus pool, Miami saw a prep pitcher fall to them that they could not pass on: Colorado right-hander Grant Shepardson. Although still 18, a big-league impact could happen even sooner for Shepardson. The key cog in Shepardson’s quick development has been those closest to him.

It became a family affair for the Shepardsons on Day 3 of the draft when Grant's brother, Blake, a righty reliever out of the collegiate ranks, was drafted by the White Sox in the 11th round. For Grant, he went before his role model and a young man who has supported him the length of his career starting at an early age. Even if it took tough love, over the years, the brothers became inseparable. 

“They pushed each other hard and his brother rode him like a bull to push him and get better,” their father, Paul Shepardson, stated. “They are best friends.”

According to their matriarch, the Shepardson brothers continued to be each other’s best source of motivation as they grew through the high school ranks. For the younger brother, he did his best to act spongelike around Blake, especially in terms of preparation.

“Grant saw how Blake worked out and took his workout and made it his own.”

As the pair grew, Blake headed off to college and continued to follow his own trajectory, first locally at Denver's Regis University, then transferring to the University of San Francisco for his junior season. However, his support for his brother didn’t waver. If anything, it got even stronger and more frequent. Grant committed to play at San Francisco as well. As Blake became even more versed with his younger brother’s path during Grant’s later high school years, he saw how advanced Grant was.

“Ever since I entered college and started to follow along to his journey, I’ve started to realize how advanced he is at such a young age,” Blake said. “For example, by his junior year, he had already mastered a good slider, changeup, two-seam, sinker etc. Just a bunch of stuff like that that I had no idea about when I was his age.”

Blake also noticed Grant’s strength of mind and his ability to rise to any game occasion, demonstrating maturity beyond his current years.

“Not only that, his talent is extraordinary," the elder brother added. “The fact he has been able to be so successful in certain games and completely dominant at 17-18 is crazy; I know at that age, I was only just breaking the surface of what it could look like to be a good pitcher.”

Yet another thing Blake noticed was the ability for Grant to be even better. With his brother sitting 93-94 mph with his fastball as late as his junior year, the elder Shepardson saw more in the tank and took it upon himself to encourage it and bring it out. This past winter, Grant met Andrew Amato, the Director of Pitching at Push Performance in Arizona. Their meeting happened on account of Blake.

“He started working with me in February,” Amato said. “I’ve been working with his brother Blake for over a year now and Blake got Grant and I in contact.”

Amato went to work with Grant on his lower body strength and mechanics. It was a main driver in his ability to bump up his fastball velocity and secure a $897,500 signing bonus from the Marlins.

“(We) started off primarily focusing on spinal capacity and coordination through his spine. Made a few small tweaks to his mechanics, in hopes to clean up timing out of peak leg lift, and avoid a super swingy lead leg,” Amato said. “Along with that, increasing arm side side bend and posterior pelvic tilt to increase torque being induced at the lumbar spine.“

After that, it was all about repetition.

“Hammered that stuff and over the course of the season. We obviously would talk weekly and velo just kept ticking up,” Amato said. “Ended up hitting 98 on March 28 and one of his last pitches of the game was 97. He came in, got some work in before his pre-draft workouts and ended up climbing to 98 as well.”

 

 

 

 

 

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On top of Shepardson's staple slider, that velocity has been recognized very quickly. According to Amato, though, this still isn’t the best possible version of him.

“There is definitely more in the tank. For being 18, and doing what he’s doing is a great sign. Now, the goal moving forward obviously is to keep climbing average velo and dialing in command. A lot is gonna happen in the next couple years.”

As those years happen, along the ride with Grant will still be his brother Blake. Through his own experience, Blake has made it his task to continue to contribute to the success of his younger sibling. According to Blake, they will continue compelling each other to develop further.

“Having him be really good at a young age has been awesome just because I have a younger version of myself who I can bounce ideas off of, help with my stuff, and ultimately I can be the one to help him through a baseball career,” the elder Shepardson told us. “I’ve been there, done that at a lot of places, lots of teams, coaches and had lots of success and even more failure.”

“I can’t even express how fired up I am for my brother,” Blake added. “He works his ass off and everything he has accomplished has been deserved.“

By both being selected in the 2024 draft, the Shepardson brothers are one of six pairs of siblings in MLB history to go in the same selection period. Cole Messina (Round 3, Rockies) and Carson Messina (Round 12, Blue Jays) also pulled off the feat this year.

“One person getting drafted is a huge thing and a major accomplishment for one person or one family,” Blake stated. “But myself as well is almost inconceivable at this point. I cannot imagine what our parents are feeling now. But, at the end of the day, they are the sole reasons we are at this point. They supported us every step of the way, and have been there no matter what.”

What is next in the development path for the Miami-bound Shepardson as he enters the professional ranks?

“(Blake) had been up to 101 mph this summer,” a collegiate source said. "I don’t know if Grant will throw that hard, but that was something that was really intriguing in the recruiting process. His slider is gross. Best pitch and it’s not close. The issue with his fastball is the movement: super generic. If he gets it to do something and adds a third pitch, he could be a starter. But at worst, he’s a good reliever that relies heavily on his slider.”

With a great blueprint that has quickly gotten even better and a sturdy support system that isn’t going anywhere no matter how many miles come between them, Grant Shepardson is going places quickly. With an already high floor and higher ceiling, this is arguably the best signing of the draft for Miami. For it, the team can thank the Shepardson family now and continuously.

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