Spencer Schwellenbach
Spencer Drew Schwellenbach (born May 31, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher and shortstop in the Atlanta Braves organization.
Spencer Schwellenbach | |
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Atlanta Braves | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Saginaw, Michigan, U.S. | May 31, 2000|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Amateur career
Schwellenbach grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and attended Heritage High School, where he was a captain of both the baseball and soccer teams.[1] He committed to play college baseball at Nebraska over offers from Michigan and Michigan State after his sophomore season.[2] He was named the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and the state's Mr. Baseball as a senior after pitching to a 6–3 win–loss record with a 0.50 earned run average (ERA) and 88 strikeouts in 56+1⁄3 innings pitched while also hitting for a .367 batting average with 44 runs scored and 20 RBIs.[3] Schwellenbach was selected in the 34th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Indians, but opted not to sign with the team.[4]
As a true freshman, Schwellenbach started 44 on Nebraska's games and batted .275 with five home runs and 22 RBIs.[5] He hit .295 in 15 games as a sophomore before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[6] Following the season he played collegiate summer baseball for the Traverse City Pit Spitters of the Northwoods League, where he hit for a .356 average over 22 games.[7][8] After only playing as a position player in his first two collegiate seasons, Schwellenbach was added as a relief pitcher.[9] As a junior, he was named Big Ten Player of the Year and was a second team All-American by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.[10][11] He was also named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.[12][13] In the NCAA Fayetteville Regional of 2021 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, Schwellenbach pitched 4+2⁄3 innings of scoreless relief and drove in the game-tying run in a 5–3 win over Arkansas to force a deciding game 7.[14] He was named the winner of the John Olerud Award as the nation's best two-way player after finishing the season with a .284 batting average and a .403 on-base percentage with six home runs and 40 RBIs while also posting a 3–1 record with ten saves and a 0.57 ERA over 18 pitching appearances.[15][16]
Professional career
Schwellenbach was selected in the second round with the 59th overall pick in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft by the Atlanta Braves.[17] He signed with Atlanta on July 19, 2021, for a $1 million signing bonus.[18] Shortly after signing, it was announced that Schwellenbach would undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the Ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.[19] He missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing from surgery.[20] Schwellenbach was assigned to the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets at the start of the 2023 season.[21] He was selected to play in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.[22]
References
- Trotman, Jeanna (May 29, 2018). "Heritage's Spencer Schwellenbach named Gatorade Michigan Baseball Player of the Year". NBC25News.com. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- Bruntz, Michael (July 20, 2016). "Michigan and Michigan State". 247Sports. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- Bernreuter, Hugh (June 29, 2018). "Saginaw Heritage ace Spencer Schwellenbach earns Mr. Baseball honor". MLive.com. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- Bernreuter, Hugh (June 7, 2018). "Late-round MLB draft pick makes Spencer Schwellenbach's college decision easy". MLive.com. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- "Fate brings Schwellenbach back to TC". Traverse City Record-Eagle. July 22, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- "Tantalizing talent leads Schwellenbach to role as potential two-way standout for Husker baseball". Lincoln Journal Star. January 29, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- "Schwellenbach headlines new Spitters players". Traverse City Record-Eagle. June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- "Huskers are done with summer baseball. Now it's time to build toward 2021". Omaha World-Herald. August 19, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- "MLB draft awaits Spencer Schwellenbach, but first come his biggest moments as a Husker". Omaha World-Herald. April 23, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- Bernreuter, Hugh (June 3, 2021). "Saginaw's Spencer Schwellenbach named Big Ten Baseball Player of the Year". MLive.com. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- "Husker baseball's Spencer Schwellenbach earns All-America honors". Omaha World-Herald. June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- Ward, Andrew (April 6, 2021). "Spencer Schwellenbach named to watch list for prestigious award". KLKN. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- "Huskers' Schwellenbach named finalist for Golden Spikes Award". Lincoln Journal Star. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- Murphy, Tom (June 7, 2021). "'Huskers pitch in: Pair help force decider against Hogs". Hot Springs Sentinel-Record. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- "Nebraska's Schwellenbach receives college baseball's top two-way honor".
- Bernreuter, Hugh (July 12, 2021). "Atlanta Braves draft Saginaw shortstop/pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach in second round". MLive.com. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- "Braves draft two-way star from Nebraska in 2nd round". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- "Spencer Schwellenbach inks $1 million deal to start pro career with Atlanta Braves organization". Lincoln Journal Star. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- "Former Husker Spencer Schwellenbach will undergo Tommy John surgery, per report". Lincoln Journal Star. August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- "Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Throwing again". CBS Sports. RotoWire. April 18, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Makes pro debut at Single-A". CBS Sports. RotoWire. April 10, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- Martin, Derek (June 27, 2023). "Former Nebraska All-American Schwellenbach to play in All-Star Futures Game". KMAland.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers bio