Ben Sheets arrived in Milwaukee as the tenth overall selection in the 1999 draft, but he earned national fame before ever throwing a pitch at Miller Park. After dominating the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he tossed a three-hit shutout against Cuba to secure the first gold medal in U.S. Olympic baseball history, he made his debut in 2001.
In 2001, Sheets demonstrated he belonged at the highest level, earning an All-Star selection as a rookie and finishing the year with 11 wins. While the Brewers struggled as a club during the early 2000s, he remained a professional mainstay, logging over 200 innings in 2002 and 2003 and establishing himself as a solid power pitcher.
Sheets peaked in 2004, with a highly efficient season. He controlled the strike zone, striking out 264 batters and walking 32. Despite a 12-14 record due to poor run support, his 2.70 ERA and league-leading 8.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio earned him eighth in Cy Young voting. That year, on May 16, he struck out 18 Braves, setting a team record and solidifying his elite status.
Following his 2004 campaign, Sheets faced mound struggles and injuries but had bright spots. He earned his fourth All-Star in 2008, starting the Midsummer Classic for the NL, while dealing with shoulder and elbow issues. He helped the Brewers reach their first postseason in 26 years in 2008, but his arm gave out before playoffs. He underwent Tommy John Surgery and missed the 2009 season, but when he returned, he did so with the Oakland Athletics.
Sheets compiled an 86-83 record, a 3.72 ERA, and 1,206 strikeouts for Milwaukee.
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