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Spencer Schwellenbach

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Spencer Schwellenbach
Atlanta Braves – No. 56
Pitcher
Born: (2000-05-31) May 31, 2000 (age 24)
Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 29, 2024, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record8–7
Earned run average3.35
Strikeouts127
Teams

Spencer Drew Schwellenbach (born May 31, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Amateur career

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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 of 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

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The Atlanta Braves selected Schwellenbach in the second round, with the 59th overall pick, of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[17] He signed with Atlanta on July 19, 2021, for a $1 million signing bonus.[18] Shortly after signing, Schwellenbach underwent 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]

Schwellenbach split the beginning of the 2024 season with the High–A Rome Emperors and Double–A Mississippi Braves, accumulating a 1.80 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 8 starts. On May 29, 2024, Schwellenbach was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[23] He made his MLB debut later that day against the Washington Nationals, yielding three earned runs on five hits in five innings and earning the loss.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Trotman, Jeanna (May 29, 2018). "Heritage's Spencer Schwellenbach named Gatorade Michigan Baseball Player of the Year". NBC25News.com. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Bruntz, Michael (July 20, 2016). "Michigan and Michigan State". 247Sports. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  3. ^ Bernreuter, Hugh (June 29, 2018). "Saginaw Heritage ace Spencer Schwellenbach earns Mr. Baseball honor". MLive.com. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Bernreuter, Hugh (June 7, 2018). "Late-round MLB draft pick makes Spencer Schwellenbach's college decision easy". MLive.com. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  5. ^ Cook, James (July 22, 2020). "Fate brings Schwellenbach back to TC". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Basnett, Chris (January 29, 2021). "Tantalizing talent leads Schwellenbach to role as potential two-way standout for Husker baseball". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  7. ^ "Schwellenbach headlines new Spitters players". Traverse City Record-Eagle. June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "Huskers are done with summer baseball. Now it's time to build toward 2021". Omaha World-Herald. August 19, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  9. ^ "MLB draft awaits Spencer Schwellenbach, but first come his biggest moments as a Husker". Omaha World-Herald. April 23, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Bernreuter, Hugh (June 3, 2021). "Saginaw's Spencer Schwellenbach named Big Ten Baseball Player of the Year". MLive.com. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  11. ^ "Husker baseball's Spencer Schwellenbach earns All-America honors". Omaha World-Herald. June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  12. ^ Ward, Andrew (April 6, 2021). "Spencer Schwellenbach named to watch list for prestigious award". KLKN. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  13. ^ "Huskers' Schwellenbach named finalist for Golden Spikes Award". Lincoln Journal Star. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  14. ^ Murphy, Tom (June 7, 2021). "'Huskers pitch in: Pair help force decider against Hogs". Hot Springs Sentinel-Record. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  15. ^ "Nebraska's Schwellenbach receives college baseball's top two-way honor".
  16. ^ Bernreuter, Hugh (July 12, 2021). "Atlanta Braves draft Saginaw shortstop/pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach in second round". MLive.com. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  17. ^ "Braves draft two-way star from Nebraska in 2nd round". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  18. ^ "Spencer Schwellenbach inks $1 million deal to start pro career with Atlanta Braves organization". Lincoln Journal Star. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  19. ^ "Former Husker Spencer Schwellenbach will undergo Tommy John surgery, per report". Lincoln Journal Star. August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  20. ^ "Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Throwing again". CBS Sports. RotoWire. April 18, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  21. ^ "Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Makes pro debut at Single-A". CBS Sports. RotoWire. April 10, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  22. ^ Martin, Derek (June 27, 2023). "Former Nebraska All-American Schwellenbach to play in All-Star Futures Game". KMAland.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  23. ^ "Braves Select Spencer Schwellenbach". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  24. ^ Trocchi, Bill (May 30, 2024). "Braves pitching prospect Spencer Schwellenbach strikes out 5 in mixed MLB debut". AP News. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
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