Shane Youman #27

Shane Demond Youman (pronounced "YOU-min")...Is a 1998 graduate of New Iberia (LA) High School...Played three years of NCAA baseball (1999-01) at LSU, where he was a member of the Tigers' 2000 College World Series championship team...Went 6-2 with a 4.82 ERA in 50 career appearances during his collegiate career...Became just the second African-American starting pitcher in LSU history...Signed by Pirates scout Everett Russell...Was originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 45th round of the 1997 June draft, but did not sign.

2006

Went 11-2 with a 2.29 ERA in 31 minor league games; 9-1 with a 2.28 ERA (102.2ip/26er) in his 18 starts...Began season with Altoona (AA)...Ranked third among Eastern League relievers in batting average against (.167)...Posted an Eastern League best 0.82 walks per nine innings pitched among relievers while also allowing a league-low 6.55 baserunners per game among relievers...Worked 4.0 scoreless innings and earned save in first outing on 4/7 vs. Trenton...Posted a 1.96 ERA (18.1ip/4er) in five outings during the month of April...Was promoted to Indianapolis (AAA) on 5/11 and surrendered four runs in 2.0ip that night at Charlotte...Returned to Double-A on 5/13 and tossed 2.1 hitless frames that night vs. Binghamton...Was not charged with an earned run in five consecutive appearances with?Altoona from 4/21 to 5/13 (14.1ip/2r)...Made first of 11 Double-A starts on 5/16 vs. Reading and lost 9-4 decision (3.0ip/7h/7r/2er/3so)...Recorded wins in back-to-back outings on 5/25 vs. Bowie and 5/29 at Erie...Pitched 3.0 hitless innings in his second start on 6/1 @Akron...Made one more relief appearance on 6/4 vs. New Hampshire before joining starting rotation for good on 6/10...Tossed 6.0 scoreless innings and struck out six while earning victory on 6/16 vs. Reading...Was named E.L. Pitcher-of-the-Week for the week ending 7/2 after going 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA (13.0ip/1er) in two starts...Hurled 7.0 scoreless frames vs. Akron on 7/2, but received a no-decision in Altoona's 1-0, 10-inning victory...Was the starting pitcher for the Southern Division squad at the Eastern League All-Star Game; retired the side in order with two strikeouts in his lone inning of work (game was played on 7/12 at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona)...Struck out a career-high nine batters while pitching 7.0 shutout innings in 1-0 win at Bowie on 7/20...Won his last seven Double-A decisions and posted a 1.20 ERA (67.1ip/9er) in his last 13 games with Altoona, beginning on 5/25...Was leading the Eastern League in ERA (1.51) when he was promoted to Triple-A on 7/31...Was victorious in first start with Indianapolis on 7/31 vs. Toledo (7.0ip/1er)...Surrendered eight runs (seven earned) while pitching just 3.0 innings in next start on 8/6 at Columbus...Pitched at least 6.0 innings in each of his last three starts with Indy, going 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA (20.1ip/4er)...Had contract purchased by Pittsburgh on 9/6...Started and lost major league debut on 9/10 at Cincinnati (tossed 5.0 shutout innings before allowing three runs in the 6th inning)...Allowed one run in 3.0 innings in first relief appearance on 9/16 at New York (NL)...Also singled off New York's Orlando Hernandez for first career hit on 9/16...Moved back into the starting rotation and lost a 5-2 decision at Los Angeles on 9/21 and went 2-for-2 with an RBI at the plate...Allowed one hit over 2.0 shutout innings of relief in 15-inning game vs. Houston on 9/27...Started final game of the season on 10/1 vs. Cincinnati; scattered four hits over 7.0 shutout innings but came away with a no-decision in Pittsburgh's 1-0 win...Went 3-for-7 (.429) with an RBI at the plate...The Pirates went 1-2 in his three starts...Participated in the Venezuelan Winter League and went 0-2 with a 24.00 ERA (3.0ip/8er) in two starts with Caribes.

2005

Spent entire season with Altoona...Went 4-6 with a 4.46 ERA in 39 relief outings and 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA in five lateseason starts...Pitched 3.0 innings or more in 14 games - entered season having never worked more than 3.0 innings in any career outing...Limited left-handed hitters to a .221 average...Made second career start on 8/16 @Akron (game two); worked 6.0 innings and struck out six batters to earn victory...Tossed career-high 8.0 innings to pick up the win as the Curve clinched the Eastern League South wild-card berth on the final day of the regular season on 9/5 @Bowie...Started the deciding Fifth Game of the E.L. Division Playoff Series @Akron on 9/11 and surrendered three runs on eight hits in 4.0 innings of work (received a no-decision in Curve's 6-4 loss)...Pitched in the Arizona Fall League and went 1-1 with a 5.96 ERA in eight relief outings with the Peoria Saguaros.

2004

Spent entire regular season with Lynchburg (A) before joining Altoona for the Eastern League playoffs...Was recipient of Lynchburg's Reliever of the Year award...Stranded 21 of his 30 inherited runners (70%)...Posted a 1.01 ERA (26.2ip/3er) in his first 16 appearances and a 4.37 ERA (47.1ip/23er) in his final 31 games...Tossed 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings from 4/14 to 5/9. ...Was promoted to Double-A for the Eastern League playoffs on 9/8...Tossed one scoreless inning in his lone post-season appearance in Game One of the divisional playoff round on 9/9 vs. Erie.

2003

Spent entire season with Hickory (A)...Led staff in appearances and ranked second in saves...Allowed just two home runs in 50.1ip and limited lefties to a .209 average...Earned a save in each of his first four games...Posted a 9.53 ERA (11.1ip/12er) over his final eight appearances, raising his ERA from 3.23 to 4.65...Made first professional start on 8/27 @Asheville and suffered the loss (2.2ip/5h/6r/5er/3bb/2so).

2002

Made professional debut with Williamsport (A)...Held opposing hitters to just a .189 average...Did not allow a run in his first seven outings (12.2ip/22 K's), going 2-0 with a pair of saves...Posted a 1.37 ERA over his final 11 appearances (19.2ip/3er).