Sam Shaw is turning one of the worst injuries he could imagine into one of the best things that has ever happened to him. The Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect from Victoria was activated off the 60-day injured list in June and assigned to the high-A Vancouver Canadians. He promptly punished pitchers, hitting four home runs and driving in 14 runs through his first 10 games with the Nat Bailey Stadium crew.
From Blood Clot to Comeback
Shaw, a ninth-round draft pick by Toronto in 2023, first joined Vancouver last July. After just seven games, he was shut down for the season when diagnosed with a blood clot near his right shoulder, a result of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). TOS is a group of conditions caused by pressure on blood vessels or nerves between the neck and shoulder. The condition has become more common in baseball, particularly among pitchers, due to repetitive throwing motions. While some big-league pitchers like Merrill Kelly have bounced back, others like Stephen Strasburg were never the same.
Shaw, 21, underwent surgery at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster the week of his diagnosis. He remained largely idle until January and was cleared for baseball action only this spring. The long recovery gave him plenty of time to reflect.
“I enjoy the game even more now,” said Shaw, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound left-handed hitter and righty thrower. “When you have something taken away from you — what’s the line about absence making the heart grow fonder? In baseball, you can worry about getting promoted or your numbers instead of enjoying playing and enjoying your time around your teammates. It should be about taking it all in and we can all get away from that very easily.”
Mental Shift and New Perspective
Shaw credits the injury with a mental breakthrough. “The injury was good for me mentally, because it’s made me realize baseball is out of my control. If I make the big leagues or don’t make the big leagues, it’s not really in my hands. You have to do the best you can and enjoy it.”
Position players diagnosed with TOS are rare. First baseman Jared Walsh and catcher Mike Zunino are among the most notable examples. Shaw found himself in uncharted territory. “I was in the ICU after surgery thinking, ‘OK, this is big,’” he recalled. “You don’t know how long it’s going to take. I assumed I was going to be out for a while. I knew I’d be out for the rest of the season, but I didn’t know the extent after that. It’s a blood clot, and you’re waiting to hear from doctors about when you’re safe.”
Early Success and Cautious Management
Shaw’s initial pace with the Canadians was not sustainable long term. Heading into a doubleheader against the Eugene Emeralds, he was batting .222 with four homers, 16 RBI, and 14 runs through 16 games. The Blue Jays are being careful not to overload him early in his return, so he is not playing every day. Still, he appears back on track and remains young for his level. Baseball Reference lists the average age for position players in Vancouver’s six-team Northwest League at just under 23.
His abilities at the plate are his carrying tool, and he says he is hitting the ball as hard as ever. “When I was here last year it was one of the worst times of my career. I was hurting like crazy,” Shaw explained, noting he batted .111 in those seven games. “Feeling healthy again is amazing. Playing with an injury, you assume that everyone’s hurt, everyone’s feeling bad all the time and you’re just soft. In reality, I was playing with a blood clot. I was playing with an arm that just didn’t really work at all and hurt all the time. Now, being healthy, it’s a dream come true.”
From Shortstop to Centre Field
Shaw learned the game with Beacon Hill Little League in Victoria and played in the B.C. Premier League with the Victoria Mariners and Victoria Eagles. He was largely a shortstop coming up through the ranks. The Blue Jays had him make 45 starts at second base with single-A Dunedin last season, but he played mostly centre field when called up to Vancouver and continues there now.
“I’m loving the outfield,” Shaw said. “I love centre. It’s fun to track balls down. And the Nat is a fun place to play centre. You get a chance to really take in the atmosphere. It’s a fun park.”
