Spencer Turnbull

Spencer Ketcham Turnbull (born September 18, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Spencer Turnbull
Detroit Tigers – No. 56
Pitcher
Born: (1992-09-18) September 18, 1992
Demopolis, Alabama
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 14, 2018, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record7–23
Earned run average4.55
Strikeouts212
Teams

Career

Turnbull attended Madison Central High School in Madison, Mississippi, and the University of Alabama, where he played college baseball for the Alabama Crimson Tide.[1] He became Alabama's top starting pitcher in 2013.[2] After the 2013 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]

The Detroit Tigers selected Turnbull in the second round, with the 63rd overall selection, of the 2014 MLB draft. He signed with the Tigers, receiving a $900,600 signing bonus.[4][5] He began his professional career with the GCL Tigers, and after one start, was promoted to the Connecticut Tigers, where he finished the season, posting an 0–2 record and 4.45 ERA in 11 starts. He spent 2015 with the West Michigan Whitecaps where he was 11–3 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 22 starts. He missed most of the 2016 season due to a shoulder impingement.[6] Turnbull began 2017 with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, compiling a 7–3 record and 3.05 ERA in 15 starts, and finished the season with the Erie SeaWolves where he pitched to an 0–3 record and 6.20 ERA in four starts.[7]

The Tigers added him to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.[8] He returned to Erie in 2018.[9] He started 13 games for the SeaWolves and then two games for the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League, before the Tigers promoted him to the major leagues on September 11.[10] He made his major league debut on September 14, pitching a 1-2-3 inning of relief with one strikeout against the Cleveland Indians.[11] He finished 0–2 in 4 appearances for Detroit.

In 2019, Turnbull made the starting rotation out of spring training and earned his first MLB win on April 23. Turnbull went 3–17 in 30 starts on the season, with a 4.61 ERA and 146 strikeouts in ​148 1⁄3 innings. His 17 losses led the major leagues. He also had the lowest run support of all qualifying major league starters, at just 2.65 runs per game.[12]

On July 31, 2020, Turnbull earned the win in a 7–2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. It was his first win in his last 19 starts, and his first-ever win at home following 18 previous starts at Comerica Park.[13] Turnbull started 11 of the Tigers' 58 games during the 2020 season, compiling a 4–4 record with a 3.97 ERA and 51 strikeouts in ​58 2⁄3 innings.

Pitch selection

Turnbull throws a four-seam fastball and a tailing two-seam fastball, each averaging 94–95 MPH (topping out at 98 MPH), a slider averaging 86–87 MPH, a curveball at about 80–81 MPH, and a changeup at about 86–88 MPH. The slider has been his most effective pitch, yielding only a .198 batting-average-against over his career.[14]

References
  1. "Alabama pitcher Spencer Turnbull projected to be first in-state college player drafted on Thursday". AL.com. June 5, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  2. Don Kausler Jr. (May 2, 2013). "'Matured' Spencer Turnbull returns to role as Alabama's No. 1 starter". AL.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  3. "#17 Spencer Turnbull - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. Andrew Gribble. "Spencer Turnbull signs contract with Detroit Tigers, ends career at Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  5. Laymance, Austin (January 20, 2016). "Tigers sign second-rounder Spencer Turnbull to full pick value | MLB.com". M.mlb.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  6. Sipple, George (March 9, 2017). "Detroit Tigers' Spencer Turnbull hoping to pitch at Double-A". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  7. "Spencer Turnbull Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  8. Fenech, Anthony (November 20, 2017). "Tigers add seven prospects to 40-man roster, sign LHP Ryan Carpenter". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  9. Brown, Nathan (June 10, 2018). "'Wolves' Turnbull tosses four-hit shutout". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  10. McCosky, Chris (September 10, 2018). "Iglesias to see specialist; Tigers call up pitchers Turnbull, Hall". The Detroit News.
  11. McCosky, Chris (September 15, 2018). "Dandy debut: Tigers rookie Turnbull makes a powerful first impression". The Detroit News. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  12. Severance, Matt (August 15, 2019). "MEET THE DETROIT TIGERS' SPENCER TURNBULL, PERHAPS MLB'S UNLUCKIEST STARTING PITCHER". sportslin.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  13. Beck, Jason (July 31, 2020). "Tigers' bottom of the order gets job done". MLB.com. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  14. "Spencer Turnbull PitchFX at fangraphs.com". fangraphs.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
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