| Mitch Spence | |
|---|---|
| Athletics – No. 28 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1998-05-06)May 6, 1998 (age 26) Kirkland, Washington, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| March 29, 2024, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 8–10 |
| Earned run average | 4.58 |
| Strikeouts | 126 |
| Teams | |
| |
Mitch Perry Spence (born May 6, 1998) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theAthletics ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Spence attendedGreen Hope High School inCary, North Carolina, and played on the school's baseball team.[1] He enrolled at theUniversity of South Carolina Aiken, where he playedcollege baseball for thePacers. Spence was twice named thePeach Belt Conference's pitcher of the week.[2][3]
TheNew York Yankees drafted Spence in the 10th round, with the 315th overall selection, of the2019 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He made his professional debut with the rookie–levelPulaski Yankees, posting a 3.54 ERA in 16 games out of thebullpen. Spence did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Spence returned to action in 2021 with the High–AHudson Valley Renegades. He made 23 appearances (20 starts) and logged a 7–6 record and 3.94 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 105 innings pitched.[6] He split the 2022 season between the Double–ASomerset Patriots and Triple–AScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Pitching in 27 contests, Spence registered a 6–7 record and 4.70 ERA with 127 strikeouts across130+1⁄3 innings of work.[7]
The Yankees invited Spence tospring training as a non-roster player in 2023.[8] He spent the year with Triple–A Scranton, making 29 starts and posting an 8–8 record and 4.47 ERA with 153 strikeouts across 163 innings pitched.[9]
On December 6, 2023, theOakland Athletics selected Spence with the first overall pick of theRule 5 draft.[10] After competing in spring training in 2024 for a roster spot with the Athletics,[11] Spence made theirOpening Day roster.[12] After pitching in relief, Spence made his first major league start on May 17.[13] The Athletics kept him in theirstarting rotation afterwards.[14]