Alex Speas | |
---|---|
Oakland Athletics | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Powder Springs, Georgia, U.S. | March 4, 1998|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 19, 2023, for the Texas Rangers | |
MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
Win–loss record | 0–2 |
Earned run average | 13.50 |
Strikeouts | 4 |
Teams | |
Alex JoVaughn Speas (born March 4,1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers.
Speas attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs,Georgia. [1] [2] Speas participated in the 2015 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game. [3] [4] He was rated as the 36th ranked prospect entering the 2016 MLB draft by Baseball America. [1] He committed to play college baseball at Auburn University. [1] [5] [6] Speas was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2nd round,with the 63rd overall selection,of the 2016 MLB draft. [7] [8] He signed with Texas for a $1,024,900 signing bonus. [9]
Speas spent his debut season of 2016 with the AZL Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League,recording eight scoreless innings over four appearances. [10] In 2017,Speas played for the Spokane Indians of the Low–A Northwest League,going 1–6 with a 6.15 ERA over 33+2⁄3 innings in 16 games (7 starts). [10] [11] Speas was transitioned to a full-time relief role in 2018, and went 2–0 with a 2.20 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 28+2⁄3 innings for the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League. [10] His season was cut short that June when he underwent Tommy John surgery after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint. [12] Speas spent the majority of the 2019 season rehabbing his elbow to full health, making just two appearances for the AZL Rangers. [13] Once returned to full health in 2019, Speas was clocked throwing as hard as 102 mph. [13] Speas did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [14] Speas split the 2021 season between the ACL Rangers and the with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central, going a combined 2–3 with an 11.15 ERA over 15+1⁄3 innings. [15]
Speas spent the 2022 season on the restricted list, as he stepped away from playing. He spent the year working as a coach/instructor at Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina, which brands itself as an international boarding school and professional sports performance center. [16] He returned to the Rangers organization and was assigned back to Frisco to open the 2023 season. [17] He was promoted to the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on June 27, after posting a 3–0 record with a 0.64 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 28+1⁄3 innings. [18] After 5 games with Round Rock, on July 19, Texas selected Speas' contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. [19] [20] He made his MLB debut that day versus the Tampa Bay Rays, throwing 1+2⁄3 scoreless innings in relief. [21] He recorded 3 swinging strikeouts, including the first batter he faced, Wander Franco. [22] In only three games for Texas, he struggled to a 13.50 ERA with four strikeouts in two innings pitched. On September 30, Speas was designated for assignment following the promotion of Matt Bush. [23]
On October 3, 2023, Speas was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. [24] He was optioned to the Triple–A Charlotte Knights to begin the 2024 season. [25] On April 5, 2024, Speas was designated for assignment following the promotion of Robbie Grossman. [26]
On April 6, 2024, Speas was traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash considerations; he was subsequently assigned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. [27]
Glen Weston Perkins is an American former professional baseball pitcher and a television analyst. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins.
Below are select minor league players and the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Texas Rangers:
Thomas Andrew Pomeranz, nicknamed Big Smooth, is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres. Pomeranz was an MLB All-Star with the Padres in 2016, and a World Series champion with the Red Sox in 2018.
Alexander "Chi Chi" González is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. González goes by Chi Chi, a nickname given to him by his grandfather.
Luke Ray Jackson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round, 45th overall, of the 2010 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Rangers, and has also played for the Atlanta Braves.
Alexander Claudio is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels and New York Mets. Claudio pitches in an unorthodox sidearm manner.
Below is a partial list of players in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league organization and rosters of their minor league affiliates. Players individually listed here have not yet played in Major League Baseball (MLB), but have reached an advanced level of achievement or notoriety. Some notable players in the minor leagues may have their own profile pages, such as first-round draft picks. Note that anyone with a past MLB appearance has their own profile page, even if they are currently playing in the minor leagues.
Kolby Kenneth Allard is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. He was selected by the Braves with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft.
Cole Gatlin Ragans is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers.
Taylor Lynn Hearn is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and Kansas City Royals.
Jimmy Matthew Herget is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers.
Shaun Anderson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays. He has also played in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers. He played college baseball for the University of Florida and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft.
Joseph Anthony Palumbo Jr. is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Texas Rangers selected Palumbo in the 30th round of the 2013 MLB draft. and he made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut for them in 2019.
Adam John Alexy is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers.
Joseph Israel Barlow is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers.
John Edward King is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers.
Tayler James Scott is a South African professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He is the first South African baseball pitcher in MLB and NPB history.
Codi Dalton Heuer is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization. He played college baseball at Wichita State University. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs.
Wesley Scott Benjamin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers.
Justin Michael Slaten is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Slaten made his MLB debut in 2024.