| Shane Spencer | |
|---|---|
.png) Spencer in 2023 | |
| Outfielder /Manager | |
| Born: (1972-02-20)February 20, 1972 (age 53) Key West, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: April 10, 1998, for the New York Yankees | |
| NPB: April 1, 2005, for the Hanshin Tigers | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: July 22, 2004, for the New York Mets | |
| NPB: September 16, 2006, for the Hanshin Tigers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .262 |
| Home runs | 59 |
| Runs batted in | 242 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .237 |
| Home runs | 15 |
| Runs batted in | 50 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Michael Shane Spencer (born February 20, 1972) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder. He played a total of 538 games inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Yankees,Texas Rangers,Cleveland Indians, andNew York Mets, compiling 438hits, 59home runs, and 242runs batted in. He also played inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theHanshin Tigers.
Spencer attendedGranite Hills High School inEl Cajon, California. TheNew York Yankees selected him in the 28th round of the1990 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He was areplacement player duringspring training in1995,crossing the picket line during theplayers' strike.
The Yankees promoted Spencer to the major leagues in1998, at the age of 26. He first played briefly in April, then hit 10 home runs in 67 major leagueat bats in September, including threegrand slams in a ten day span.[2][3][4] This was a record for major league rookies, later broken byAlexei Ramírez in 2008.[5] Spencer was nicknamedRoy Hobbs in reference to the protagonist inThe Natural, because he hit many home runs and was older than most rookies when reached the majors.[6][7] He was on the front cover of an October 1998Sports Illustrated issue.[8]
Spencer led the Yankees with two home runs in theAmerican League Division Series, hitting a solo home run in Game 2 atYankee Stadium and a three-run shot on the road against theTexas Rangers in the clinching Game 3.[9][10][11] The Yankees went on to win theWorld Series.[12]
Spencer was squeezed out of a regular role on the 1999 team when the Yankees decided toplatoonRicky Ledée andChad Curtis in left field. He was soon demoted to Triple-A to get regular playing time. In May, Spencer voiced his frustration with the organization.[13] He was up and down with the team throughout the season, also going on thedisabled list with anirregular heartbeat.[14][15] Spencer was ultimately left off theWorld Series roster. He publicly discussed his frustration with his role on the team with the media.[16]
In 2000, Spencer eventually won back playing time to become the team's starting left fielder. However, he tore theanterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in July, ending his season.[17][18] The Yankees acquiredGlenallen Hill from the Cubs just a few days later.[19]
After rehabbing his knee in the minors to start the 2001 season, Spencer returned to the big leagues in June and homered on his first game back.[20] Spencer homered in the team's first game at Yankee Stadium following the attack on the World Trade Center.[21] Spencer managed to win more playing time in the World Series, edging outChuck Knoblauch for at-bats.[22]
FollowingPaul O'Neill's retirement, Spencer was the Yankees starting right fielder to begin the 2002 season.[23] However, by June, he had lost his starting job to rookieJuan Rivera. Spencer instead filled in at the corner outfield spots as needed.[24]
After reaching free agency for the first time, he signed with Cleveland for the2003 season. In July, Cleveland traded Spencer to theTexas Rangers for outfielderRyan Ludwick.[25]
.jpg)
In 2004, Spencer signed with theNew York Mets. In March, during spring training, Spencer and teammateKarim García were involved in an altercation with a pizza deliveryman outside a bar. No charges were filed, but both players were fined.[26] Spencer went on the disabled list in July, after he cut his foot stepping on broken glass in a bar. While rehabbing the injury inPort St. Lucie, Florida in late July, Spencer was arrested on a charge ofdriving under the influence.[27] The Mets suspended him[28] then released him. The Yankees signed him to a minor league contract in August.[29][30]
In 2005, Spencer signed with theHanshin Tigers of Japan'sCentral League,[31] appearing in 108 games and hitting 9 homers. In2006, he returned to play for the Tigers, but was released.[32]
After his playing career ended, Spencer became a coach. He served as the hitting coach for theLake Elsinore Storm, the Single-A affiliate of theSan Diego Padres in 2008 and 2009. In 2013, he was named the hitting coach of theSomerset Patriots of the independentAtlantic League.[33][34][35] In August 2013, someone claiming to be Spencer admitted to using steroids in a radio interview on ESPN Radio 104.5. The real Spencer called in toBoomer and Carton onWFAN and released a statement to set the record straight. He later had a proper interview with Mike Lindsley on ESPN Radio.[36]
In 2015, Spencer left Somerset to become the manager of the Hwaseong Heroes, the farm team of theNexen Heroes of theKBO League.[37] He stepped down from his position in 2019 after being arrested for driving under the influence and driving with an expired license.[38][39]
Spencer worked as an instructor at the Hudson Valley Renegades baseball camp in 2020[40] and served as a coach for the Saugerties Stallions of thePerfect Game Collegiate Baseball League for 2021 season.[41][42] In July 2023, Spencer joined the coaching staff of the Irish Wolfhounds, a non-professional team composed of Irish citizens who had prior college or professional baseball experience.[43][44]