Spencer Bivens

Spencer Griffin Bivens

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 205 lb.
• School Penn State University, Rogers State University
• High School State College Area High School
• Debut June 16, 2024

• Born June 28, 1994 in Virginia Beach, VA USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Spencer Bivens was a few days short of his 30th birthday when he made his major league debut for the San Francisco Giants on June 16, 2024. He started his collegiate career at Penn State University, but transferred to Rogers State University in Claremore, OK after one year.

He was undrafted after completing college and made his professional debut two years later, in 2020, in one of the short-lived independent leagues set up during the COVID-19 pandemic to give otherwise inactive professional players a chance to get some playing time. He did well enough there that it opened some doors for him. In 2021, he pitched in the Frontier League and in the Atlantic League, but his ERA was a bloated 7.47 in 26 games. However after starting off with three scoreless outings with the Gastonia Honey Hunters in 2022, he was signed as a free agent by the Giants on May 16th. After pitching well with the Class A San Jose Giants of the California League (2-1, 2.70 in 21 games) as one of the oldest players in the circuit, he was promoted all the way up to the AAA Sacramento River Cats, where the going was rougher (1-1, 6.75 in 6 games). Still, the Giants saw enough in him that they sent him to the Arizona Fall League, where he put up great numbers (0-0, 0.87 in 7 games).

He continued his unusual career path in 2023 when he went 3-0, 3.60 for the Eugene Emeralds, then moved up to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Eastern League where he went 5-4, 3.69 in 27 games. He pitched winter ball in the Mexican Pacific League after the season, going 0-2, 1.69 with 14 saves in 27 games for the Tomateros de Culiacan then started 2024 back with Sacramento. This time, he was ready for the level, going 4-0, 2.81 with 8 saves in his first 21 games. That got him the call to San Francisco, where in his debut, he took over for starter Erik Miller in the 2nd inning, and proceeded to give up just one hit over the next three innings - a solo homer to Nolan Schanuel of the Los Angeles Angels. The Giants exploded for 9 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning, and as a result he received credit for the 13-6 win, capping a memorable debut in The Show. In 27 appearances for the Giants, including 2 starts, he went 3-1, 3.14 with a save, pitching 48 2/3 innings, a pretty good season for someone who had seemingly no chance of ever making it to the Show.

Related Sites

• Spencer Bivens on mlb.com
• Rogers State bio