Hawk Item — Played in the Northwoods League with the Mankato Moondogs (2012)… played summer ball in the Cape Cod League for the Hyannis Mets (2010)… member of the 2010 Unity Council.
2013 Honors — Academic All-Big Ten. 2013 — Started 21 games (14 at catcher, five in left field, two as the designated hitter)… posted a season-high four-game hitting streak April 13-21… started the final two games at Penn State (April 20-21), tallying two hits in each contest… went 4-for-8 against the Nittany Lions… played the final two games against Kansas State (April 12-14), tallying a hit in each contest… went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI in the series finale April 14… went 2-for-6 against Northwestern, delivering a pinch-hit single in the series opener (March 22) and going 1-for-4 in the second game… went 3-for-4 at the plate vs. Austin Peay on Feb. 16, tying a career-best in hits… drove in four runs against Austin Peay on Feb. 16, setting a career high… threw out four baserunners in the opening series at Austin Peay… one of three Hawkeyes named to the 2013 Big Ten Baseball Players to Watch list.
2012 — Played in 32 games… made 25 starts, 22 at catcher, two in left and one at DH… hit .234, totaling 22 hits in 94 at-bats… scored 13 runs and drove in 10… tallied five doubles and earned eight walks… went 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts… registered 147 putouts, the second most of any Hawkeye… had a perfect fielding percentage in conference action (1.000)… notched four multiple-hit games, including two, three-hit contests… recorded two multiple-RBI games… enjoyed a season-high five-game hitting streak and a season-high seven game reached-base streak… notched five two-out RBIs… threw out three base runners… went 3-for-6 with two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases against Youngstown State (March 4).
2011 — Saw action in three games before season was shortened due to injury… made two starts at DH… recorded a base hit on both starts… went 2-for-7 (.286) with a double and an RBI… RBI came with two outs… tallied two walks… recorded a .429 slugging percentage and a .444 on-base percentage.
2010 — Appeared in 28 games with 18 starts… missed some playing time due to a hamstring injury… finished the year with the second-highest freshman batting average (.260)… started in five Big Ten games… started 14 games at catcher and four at DH… laced his first hit as a Hawkeye against Austin Peay (Feb. 20), going 2-for-5 with a run scored… collected his first career double against Western Illinois (March 27)… three of his seven RBIs were with two outs… recorded five multi-hit games… longest hit streak was three games.
High School — A two-time all-conference and all-academic honoree… named to the all-area team his senior season… an all-state selection in 2009… drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 30th round (920th pick)… his senior season he hit .430 with six home runs, 28 RBIs and six stolen bases… played on the Longshots Baseball team for seven years… selected by the Chicago White Sox for the area code team… a Team Illinois selection… lettered in football three times… an all-area, all-conference and all-academic selection… the home run derby champion at the Kernal Classic in 2008… was ranked No. 1 catcher in the state of Illinois by PG Crosschecker and Illinois Prep Baseball Report… received Sons of the American Revolution Citizenship Award in 2008… honor roll student.
Personal — Born Feb. 25, 1991… son of Rich and Sue Sheppard… high school coach was Chad Isaacson… leisure studies major.