Sports Spotlight: West Orange Times & Observer: Dalton Shuffield

Dalton Shuffield has only been in Florida for a few weeks, but has adjusted beautifully to playing with the Winter Garden Squeeze. The San Antonio native has quickly made a name for himself on the team with his fielding abilities and nine hits in just 21 at-bats, as well as three RBI and four stolen bases. 

How did you get started playing baseball, and what made you stick with it?

Just as a little kid I played baseball. My dad played in the Royals organization and so he just kind of brought me up playing baseball and all sports, really. I just liked baseball. I’m just more confident in my abilities with baseball rather than in basketball — being 5-foot-10, you know — and being kind of skinnier with football. Baseball’s a better fit.

How did you end up at Texas State?

Me and Wesley, he plays here too, we played on the same summer ball team for a long time and we’d travel everywhere. Being from San Antonio, Texas State is like an hour from there so I was just kind of a local kid and they scouted both of us. Now we both go there together.

How has the transition from Texas to Florida been?

Well I’m kind of used to the heat, not really the rain, and the humidity here is a lot worse than in Texas. But the living situation is great here, my teammates are great and the coaches are great so it was pretty easy to fit in.

What is adjusting to the FCSL like?

It wasn’t really hard. Most of the guys were super nice off the bat and everything just kind of fit really well from the very beginning. It was pretty easy to get right into it.

What do you hope to work on through the Squeeze this summer?

Getting through the summer I’m just trying to have better at-bats at the plate. I feel like my fielding is just fine right now, but I’m trying to get faster, stronger, a little bigger and just more plate discipline.

What’s been your favorite thing about this experience thus far?

With the team everyone’s really nice, everyone gets along really well. We’ve got a lot of team chemistry. And about Florida, there’s a lot of fishing spots. It’s pretty fun just to go with Matt and Wesley — they’re huge fishermen.

Do you have any hobbies outside of baseball?

A lot of pool playing goes on, a lot of pool and a lot of fishing. There’s a lot of working out every day and then just relaxing after that.

What’s your go-to meal after a game?

If it’s not Sunday, Chick-fil-A. I get the regular Chick-fil-A sandwich meal with a sweet tea and get the 12-count nuggets with that, as well. You’ve gotta get both.