Biography
Mitch Perry Spence (born May 6, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Career
Amateur career
Spence attended Green Hope High School in Cary, North Carolina, and played on the school's baseball team. He enrolled at the University of South Carolina Aiken, where he played college baseball for the Pacers. Spence was twice named the Peach Belt Conference's pitcher of the week.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees drafted Spence in the 10th round, with the 315th overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the rookie–level Pulaski Yankees, posting a 3.54 ERA in 16 games out of the bullpen. Spence did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spence returned to action in 2021 with the High–A Hudson Valley Renegades. He made 23 appearances (20 starts) and logged a 7–6 record and 3.94 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 105 innings pitched. He split the 2022 season between the Double–A Somerset Patriots and Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Pitching in 27 contests, Spence registered a 6–7 record and 4.70 ERA with 127 strikeouts across 130+1⁄3 innings of work.
The Yankees invited Spence to spring training as a non-roster player in 2023. He spent the year with Triple–A Scranton, making 29 starts and posting an 8–8 record and 4.47 ERA with 153 strikeouts across 163 innings pitched.
Oakland Athletics
On December 6, 2023, the Oakland Athletics selected Spence with the first overall pick of the Rule 5 draft. After competing in spring training in 2024 for a roster spot with the Athletics, Spence made their Opening Day roster. After pitching in relief, Spence made his first major league start on May 17. The Athletics kept him in their starting rotation afterwards.