There have been a number of individuals from Lafayette, and the Acadiana area, that have played in Major League Baseball over the years.

Obviously, the entire state of Louisiana has produced even more.

As a matter of fact, 246 people born in the state of Louisiana have appeared in a Major League Baseball game, beginning in 1874, with John Peters of New Orleans, who played 11 years, with the likes of the Chicago White Stockings, Milwaukee Grays, Providence Grays, Buffalo Bisons, and Pittsburgh Alleghenys.

All summer, we’ll preview a player from the state of Louisiana that appeared in Major League baseball, starting with players from Lafayette, before spotlighting players from the Acadiana area, and then a few from the state itself.

Yesterday, we spotlighted Danny Ardoin.

Today, we feature Shane Youman.

Born in New Iberia in 1979, Youman, a left-handed pitcher, played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 2006-2007.

After playing his high school baseball at New Iberia Senior High School, and then his college baseball at LSU, Youman was drafted by the Pirates in the 43rd round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Youman played for the Pirates’ minor league affiliate Williamsport, Pennsylvania in his first year of professional baseball in 2002, going 4-0 with a 1.45 ERA. in 37.1 innings, covering 20 games, all in relief.

After spending 3-and-a-half more seasons in the minor leagues, including a AAA stop in Indianapolis, and a short stint in Caracus, Venezuela, Youman was called up to the big leagues by the Pirates in September of 2006.

In his big league debut, against the Cincinnati Reds, at the age of 26, Youman pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 runs, while striking out a batter.

Youman started 2 more games in 2006 with the Pirates, and ended up going 0-2 with a 2.91 ERA. over 21.2 innings and 5 appearances, including 3 starts.

In 2007, Youman split time between AAA and Pittsburgh, but did appear in 16 games for the Pirates, including 8 as a starter. going 3-5 with a 5.97 ERA. in 57.1 innings.

His first MLB win came against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 3 of 2007, when he allowed only 2 runs in 6 strong innings

Youman returned to the minors in 2008, spending time in independent leagues, before spending the last 4 years in the Korean Baseball Organization, where he pitched through last year.

In 7 seasons in the minor leagues, Youman went 37-20 with a 3.71 ERA.

Left out are his stats in the independent leagues, and his pitching outside of the U.S.

In parts of 2 seasons in MLB, Youman went 3-7 with a 5.13 ERA. In 21 games, including 11 starts, covering 79 innings, Youman allowed 45 earned runs on 85 hits, while walking 33 and striking out 34.

More From 103.3 The GOAT