Shon Ashley took his chance to 8 pro seasons, AAA with Expos

Shon Ashley headed off to rookie Helena in 1985 knowing the Brewers had confidence in his potential, according to The Associated Press.

The Brewers handed Ashley a sizable amount and told Ashley he should expect for or five years in the minors and that he stood a good chance of making the majors, he recounted to The AP.

"They wouldn’t have put that much money into me if they thought I didn't have a chance," Ashley told The AP.

Ashley went on to play eight seasons as a pro. He made AAA, but he never made the bigs.

Ashley's career began that year in 1985, taken by the Brewers in the third round of the draft out of Meridian High School in Idaho.

Ashley played his first season with the Brewers at Helena. He hit .295 in 46 games. He also stole eight bases.

He moved to single-A Beloit for 1986 and 1987. He hit .256 his first year there and .246 in his second.

Ashley then hit single-A Stockton for 1988. He told The Lodi News-Sentinel that July of the pressures minor league life created on his family. If it became obvious he wouldn't make the majors, he'd move on.

"It's hard on my wife," Ashley told The News-Sentinel. "She wants the kind of life where we own a house, not live out of a suitcase."

Ashley hit .266 at Stockton and moved up to AA El Paso in 1989. He hit .315 there, with 14 home runs.

That May, he put together a 14-game hitting streak, according to The El Paso Times. And he extended it to 14 on a home run.

"I've just been getting good pitches to hit," Ashley told The Times. "I got a few hits and started to not force things, just let it happen. That's when I hit best, when I don't force it or press."

Ashley returned to El Paso for 1990 and again in 1991. He hit .308 in 126 games in 1991, but he didn't see AAA.

He moved to the Expos system and AAA Indianapolis in 1992. He hit .227 in 58 games to end his career.

• Twin Falls Times News, June 11, 1985: Ashley signs with Brewers
• Lodi News-Sentinel, July 30, 1988: Stockton Ports: Not a 9 to 5 job
• El Paso Times, May 23, 1989: Ashley extends hitting streak to 14, leads Diablos over Travs

More: The 1990 El Paso Diablos

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,042
Made the Majors:1,119-36.8%
Never Made Majors:1,923-63.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 466
10+ Seasons in the Minors:276