Background
Versatile right-handed-hitting Richie Shaffer was an outstanding baseball player at Providence (Charlotte, N.C.) Senior High School. In fact, he was an all-state selection in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
The Los Angeles Dodgers chose him in the 2009 Draft, but he elected to play collegiate baseball.
Shaffer went on from Providence to star at Clemson University, where he played first base his first two years and moved to third base as a junior. He hit 30 career homers at Clemson.
Shaffer was known in college as an outstanding defensive corner infielder with very good power at the plate.