News Release
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Author: Cameron Collins
July 28, 2022
TERRE HAUTE, Ind..- The Terre Haute REX would like to extend their congratulations to former player Jordan Schaffer as he has signed with the Lake County Dockhounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball. The American Association of Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league that features 12 teams from all across the midwest and Canada.
Schaffer, a West Vigo native and Indiana State graduate, was a key player for the REX during his time with the team. He was unsure of playing this summer but decided to play because of his commitment to REX baseball saying, “I don’t want my last memories of being with the REX … to be me not playing well. So I figured it was just a chance for me to kind of go back at it again and play a little bit better this time around while at the same time staying ready for an opportunity like this that I’m in right now. And I’m just really glad I did it.”
Schaffer definitely played better this time around, boasting a batting average of .349 with three home runs and 18 RBI’s. His career numbers at Indiana State were just as impressive. Schaffer hit .338 with 11 home runs and 69 RBI’s during his five year career with the Sycamores. These stats earned him first team all Missouri Valley Conference honors in both 2021 and 2022. He was also a member of the REX team that won the Prospect League championship in 2018. Although he didn’t contribute as much in 2018, Schaffer still credits that year to his success saying, “I think struggling that summer really helped ignite my career because I didn’t want to have that feeling of struggling that bad in front of the hometown team and hometown fans. I just really wanted to make it a point to get myself better and I feel like it was just a humbling experience for me.”
When asked why he decided to stay home and play with the REX this summer when he had opportunities to play across the United States, his answer was simple, the great fans of Terre Haute baseball. “Just basically it being home to me and just the appreciation that Terre Haute baseball fans have shown for me over the course of not only that summer I played with the REX but with Indiana State too. Just being from West Vigo everybody showed me a lot of support and I felt like maybe I owed it to them to play one last summer and whether I continued playing baseball or not it was just one last shot for people that appreciated me and appreciated my career to come out and watch one last time.”
Schaffer’s rise to professional baseball is not a surprise to REX General Manager Bruce Rosselli who said, “Jordan was destined to go professional, it’s in his DNA. He is a leader on the field but also in the clubhouse. His personality and hard work proved why he was signed to the next level and I can’t be happier for him.”
Schaffer is just opening the page of his new chapter of baseball, and understands the differences and opportunities this chapter has over his past, “So far it’s a lot different, almost all of my teammates are coming from playing affiliated ball with an MLB team… It’s just awesome getting to learn from these guys who've been there, that’s what everyone dreams of and these guys have had a little bit of taste of it and to pick their brains and hear about their experiences is awesome.”
He is wasting no time getting off to a hot start for his new team. In just four games for the Dockhounds, he already has nine hits to go along with two doubles & three RBI’s. The REX are excited to watch Schaffer pursue his professional baseball career with the Dockhounds and encourage Terre Haute baseball fans to as well!
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