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Alex Speas

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Alex Speas
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1998-03-04) March 4, 1998 (age 26)
Powder Springs, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 19, 2023, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record0–2
Earned run average9.00
Strikeouts6
Teams

Alex JoVaughn Speas (born March 4, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros.

Amateur career

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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]

Professional career

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Texas Rangers

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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 earned run average (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]

Chicago White Sox

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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]

Oakland Athletics

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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] In 9 games for Las Vegas, he struggled to an 11.32 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 10+1⁄3 innings pitched. On May 8, Speas was designated for assignment by Oakland.[28]

Houston Astros

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On May 10, 2024, Speas was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[29] He made one appearance for Houston, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings of relief against the Minnesota Twins. Speas was designated for assignment following the promotion of Bryan King on June 22.[30]

Boston Red Sox

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On June 29, 2024, Speas was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox and assigned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox.[31] He was designated for assignment by Boston on July 27, after struggling to a 20.25 ERA in four games for Worcester.[32] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Worcester on July 30.[33] He became a free agent after the season.[34]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Jordan Hill (June 10, 2016). "McEachern's Alex Speas looks forward after being drafted by Rangers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  2. ^ "Alex Speas prepares for MLB Draft". 11 Alive. June 8, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  3. ^ Cash Kruth (August 15, 2015). "Yerzy, Kieboom MVPs at All-America Game". MLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  4. ^ Will Carroll (September 19, 2019). "Under Armour All-American becomes 102mph Texas Rangers Pitcher- Alex Speas Throwing Smarter and Harder". Motus Global. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  5. ^ Dan Zielinski III (June 5, 2016). "Alex Speas works out for multiple teams". The 3rd Man In. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  6. ^ John Sickels (June 7, 2016). "2016 MLB Draft: Alex Speas, RHP, Powder Springs, Georgia". Minor League Ball. SB Nation. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  7. ^ T.R. Sullivan (June 10, 2016). "Rangers stick with pitching, draft Speas". MLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  8. ^ Josh Clark (June 10, 2016). "Rangers Select LHP From Florida High School With First Round Pick". CBS 11 DFW. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  9. ^ Stefan Stevenson (June 14, 2016). "Rangers sign top four picks, include first-round lefty Cole Ragans". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Mark Parker (May 9, 2018). "Move to bullpen spurs success for Crawdads' Speas". Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  11. ^ Whitney Ogden (July 25, 2017). "Archer's Terry, South's Smith part of Georgia connection in Spokane". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  12. ^ Jeff Wilson (June 22, 2018). "Rangers lose pitching prospect to Tommy John as another returns from surgery". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  13. ^ a b Jeff Wilson (September 9, 2019). "Rangers shut down flame-throwing prospect, but not for a setback. He was throwing 102 mph". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  14. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Kennedi Landry (April 30, 2021). "Where will Rangers' top prospects begin '21?". MLB.com. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "Alex Speas Biography". Combine Academy. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "Rangers' Alex Speas: Resuming career". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Grant, Evan (June 27, 2023). "Rangers promoting hard-throwing reliever and comeback story Alex to Triple-A". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  19. ^ "Texas Rangers call up hard-throwing reliever Alex Speas from Triple-A Round Rock". The Dallas Morning News. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  20. ^ "Round Rock RHP Alex Speas Promoted to Texas". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Selbe, Nick (July 19, 2023). "Rangers Pitcher Makes MLB Debut After Yearlong Absence Coaching Youth Baseball". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  22. ^ Landry, Kennedi (July 19, 2023). "From retiring to coaching Little League to an electric MLB debut". MLB.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "Rangers' Alex Speas: Dropped from 40-man". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  24. ^ @whitesox (October 3, 2023). "The #WhiteSox have claimed right-handed pitcher Alex Speas off waivers from the Texas Rangers and released outfielder Tyler Naquin" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "White Sox's Alex Speas: Sent packing". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  26. ^ "White Sox Select Robbie Grossman, Designate Alex Speas". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  27. ^ "A's Acquire Alex Speas From White Sox". MLB Trade Rumors. April 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "Athletics Announce Several Roster Moves". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  29. ^ "Astros Claim Alex Speas, Designate Corey Julks". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  30. ^ "Astros To Select Bryan King, Designate Alex Speas". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  31. ^ Polishuk, Mark (June 29, 2024). "Red Sox Claim Alex Speas From Astros". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  32. ^ "Red Sox Acquire Danny Jansen". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  33. ^ "Red Sox's Alex Speas: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  34. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
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