Spencer Turnbull

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Spencer Ketcham Turnbull

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Biographical Information[edit]

Spencer Turnbull made his major league debut for the Detroit Tigers late in the 2018 season after having been a 2nd round pick by the Tigers in the 2014 amateur draft, out of the University of Alabama. He went 0-2, 6.06 in 4 games, including 3 starts. He then spent all of 2019 in Detroit's starting rotation, where he was in effect a victim of his success: because he was one of the most reliable starters on a last-place team that had trouble putting runs on the scoreboard, he ended up on the losing end of the decision more often than should normally have been the case. In fact, in 30 starts, he went 3-17, in spite of a decent 4.61 ERA - which was in fact good for an ERA+ of 102 - leading the American League in both losses and hit batsmen (16). With an almost identical ERA - 4.56 - teammate Matthew Boyd, who led the Tigers in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts, ended up with a record of 9-12, but then Daniel Norris was at 3-13 with an ERA of 4.49 and Jordan Zimmermann, whose ERA was in a different zip code at 6.91, finished 1-13. Spencer did manage to strike out 146 batters in 148 1/3 innings.

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he managed to top the previous year's victory total in just 11 starts, finishing at 4-4 with an ERA of 3.97, as he continued to improve. On May 18, 2021, he acquired the status of elite pitcher when he became the fifth pitcher of the season to throw a 9-inning no-hitter, following Joe Musgrove, Carlos Rodon, John Means and Wade Miley. He defeated the Seattle Mariners, 5-0, while striking out 9 batters. It was both the first complete game and shutout of his career as he improved to 3-2, 2.88 on the year. The very next day, Corey Kluber of the New York Yankees also pitched a no-hitter. However, he managed only three more starts before going on the injured list on July 7th, victim of a forearm strain, and he did not pitch again that season - or the next one either, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. he was 4-2, 2.88 in 9 starts at the time of the injury, but by the time he returned at the start of the 2023 season, he was no longer considered a potential ace. He was rocked for 7 runs in 2 innings in his first start against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 1st, then gave up another five runs in his next start, and never recovered. He made his last start of the season on May 6th then went on the injured list again, this time with discomfort in his neck. He was able to make a few rehabilitation starts in the minors, totaling 26 innings over 8 games, but did not return to Detroit where his final numbers were 1-4, 7.55 in 7 starts.

Spencer and the Tigers cut ties following the 2023 season, and on February 11, 2024, he signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies for $2 million, with the Phils hoping he could recapture his former form. He made the team out of spring training and started six games in April, going 2-0, 1.67. However, when Taijuan Walker came off the injured list, he was moved to the bullpen, a downside of pitching for the team with the best record in the majors at that point. He became the long man out of the bullpen and picked up a third win on June 1st with a three-inning scoreless outing during which he did not allow a hit or a walk and struck out six against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Jason Beck: "Turnbull spins no-no after fans 'called it': Righty, who led MLB in losses in '19, throws MLB's fifth no-no of '21", mlb.com, May 19, 2021. [1]
  • Jason Beck: "Turnbull's no-no inspired by ... Kevin Costner?", mlb.com, May 19, 2021. [2]
  • Paul Casella: "Odd man out: Turnbull to move to Phils' 'pen ... for now", mlb.com, May 4, 2024. [3]
  • Todd Zolecki: "Phillies add rotation depth in 1-year deal with Turnbull", mlb.com, February 11, 2024. [4]

Related Sites[edit]

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