Ex-minor leaguer named Denair’s new baseball coach

Shawn Stuart, a 2007 graduate of Denair High School and former player in the Colorado Rockies’ minor-league system, will be the new baseball coach at his alma mater this spring.

Stuart, who went on to play at Merced College and Long Beach State before being drafted by the Rockies in the 31st round of the 2012 draft, injured his right (pitching) shoulder during his first season in Long Beach and never quite had the same zip on his fastball.

After going 5-2 with a 3.07 earned run average in Grand Junction of the Pioneer League in 2012, he was 3-2 with a 5.71 ERA with Tri-City of the Northwest League the following year and his fastball had gone from the low 90s to the mid-80s.

At that point, he decided to hang up his spikes and pursue a teaching career.

“Teaching was always part of the plan,” said Stuart, who has one semester remaining in an online program offered by Fresno State to earn his teaching credential. “I knew I wanted to become a teacher. Obviously, I hoped it would be after a long pro career.”

In one regard, Stuart already has begun his coaching career. Surrounded by younger players in his two years in the minors, Stuart became a mentor.

“My role in the pros was to guide the younger guys,” said Stuart. “At that point, I wasn’t throwing hard at all, maybe 85, 86. ... My shoulder never really healed 100 percent. Surgery wasn’t worth the risk and all the time and all the rehab.”

Stuart replaces Darrin Allen, the school’s athletic director and fill-in coach last season.

“Practice begins in February,” said Stuart. “We’re going to do the little things right. We might not have the most talent or big-name players, from cities, but we’re going to do all the fundamentals.”

This story was originally published January 26, 2015 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Ex-minor leaguer named Denair’s new baseball coach."