Matt Spencer (minors02)

Matthew Austin Spencer

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 4", Weight 230 lb.
• School University of North Carolina, Arizona State University
• High School Morristown West High School

• Born January 27, 1986 in Morristown, TN USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Matt Spencer, also called Matthew Spencer, was a slugging outfielder who played minor league baseball from 2007 to 2013. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 3rd round of 2007 amateur draft, out of Arizona State University, for which he played in the 2007 College World Series after transfering from the University of North Carolina. It was actually his second time playing in college baseball's prime showcase, as he had played in the 2006 College World Series with the Tar Heels. Three years earlier, the Boston Red Sox had selected him in the 24th round of the 2004 amateur draft, coming out of high school, but he did not sign in order to go to college.

In his first professional season with the Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York-Penn League in 2007, he hit .263 with 9 homers and 26 RBIs in 51 games for a fine debut. he followed that in 2008 by combining to hit .280/.338/.436 in 126 games between the Clearwater Threshers in the Florida State League, and the Stockton Ports, the Oakland Athletics' affiliate in the California League, after having been included in a July 17th trade which sent veteran P Joe Blanton to Philly in return for Matt as well as fellow prospects Adrian Cardenas and Josh Outman. He hit 24 and 14 homers between the two teams, and drove in 69 runs.

In 2009, he started the year with Stockton, then after 30 games was promoted to the Midland RockHounds of the AA Texas League. He had another good year with the bat, with a slash line of .289/.345/.488 in 123 games, with 34 doubles and 19 homers. Following the season, on December 3rd, he was included in a second major transaction, this time heading to the Chicago Cubs alongside Ps Jeff Gray and Ronny Morla in return for 2B Aaron Miles and utility player Jake Fox. After a brief stint back in the FSL with the Daytona Cubs, he spent the bulk of the 2010 season with the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League and hit .268 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs in 112 games. In 2011, he reached AAA for the first time, after hitting .258 in 99 games for Tennessee. However, with the Iowa Cubs in the Pacific Coast League, he batted just .188 in 27 games. Even though he still hit 22 doubles and 14 homers between the two stops, and drove in 70 runs, the Cubs did not think he had a future as a hitter, and in 2012 decided to give him a look as a pitcher. He went back to the lower levels of the system, appearing for three different teams, but mainly for Daytona, but was not really convincing in his new role: he was 2-1, 6.27 in 15 games with 20 walks and 17 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings.

Following his failed conversion to pitching, he was let go by the Cubs, and went back to being a position player for one final season in the pros in 2013, this one in the independent leagues. He appeared in games for three different teams in the Atlantic League - the Bridgeport Bluefish, the Lancaster Barnstormers and the York Revolution - for a total of 111 games. His combined batting line was .264 with 8 homers and 47 RBIs, and he decided to call it a career.

After baseball, he returned to the University of North Carolina where he served as an undergraduate assistant coach.

Related Sites

• Arizona State bio