Spencer Schwellenbach

Spencer Schwellenbach's Biography

Spencer Drew Schwellenbach, an accomplished American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB), was born on May 31, 2000. In 2024, Spencer commenced his MLB career. The esteemed player hails from Saginaw, Michigan, where he attended Heritage High School. There, he emerged as a leader, serving as captain of both the school’s baseball and soccer teams.

Showcasing his talent from a young age, Schwellenbach was scouted and offered places by major city rivals, Michigan and Michigan State, but chose to play college baseball at Nebraska after his sophomore season. His talent flourished in his senior year, where he was named the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and the state’s Mr. Baseball.

His prowess on the pitch was exhibited by his outstanding record of a 6–3 win-loss ratio, a remarkable feat made possible by a 0.50 earned run average (ERA) and 88 strikeouts in just over 56 innings, while maintaining a .367 batting average with 44 runs scored and 20 RBIs. This led to Schwellenbach being drafted in the 34th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Indians, but he decided not to sign with the team.

While at Nebraska, Schwellenbach started 44 games in his freshman year. He managed to maintain a batting average of .275 contributing five home runs and 22 RBIs. His sophomore year was more promising as he hit an average of .295 in 15 games before the season was unexpectedly cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Utilizing the summer break, Schwellenbach played collegiate summer baseball for the Traverse City Pit Spitters of the Northwoods League, where his excellent form saw him achieve a .356 average over 22 games. Moreover, he was added as a relief pitcher despite only playing as a position player in his first two collegiate seasons. As a junior, he won the Big Ten Player of the Year title and was named a second team All-American by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. His capabilities were recognized at a national level as he became a semifinalist for the revered Golden Spikes Award.

Schwellenbach continued to impress during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. Notably, in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional, he pitched over four innings of scoreless relief and drove in the game-tying run in an enthralling 5–3 victory over Arkansas, thereby forcing a deciding game 7. For his outstanding two-way play, Schwellenbach was awarded the John Olerud Award as the nation’s best two-way player. By the end of the season, he had achieved a .284 batting average and a .403 on-base percentage, together with six home runs and 40 RBIs, culminated by a 3–1 record, ten saves, and a 0.57 ERA over 18 pitching appearances.

The next landmark in Schwellenbach’s career came when the Atlanta Braves selected him in the second round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft, with the 59th overall pick. He formally signed with Atlanta on July 19, 2021, for a $1 million signing bonus. However, shortly after signing, Schwellenbach had to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the Ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. The recovery process necessitated a hiatus in 2022 as he dedicated his time to rehabbing post-surgery.

Schwellenbach kick-started his post-recovery career with the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets at the beginning of the 2023 season. His comeback was marked with continued excellence, leading to his selection in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game. He began the 2024 season alternating between the High–A Rome Emperors and Double–A Mississippi Braves. Despite only making 8 starts, he managed to maintain an impressive score, including a 1.80 ERA with 51 strikeouts.

The climax of his journey came on May 29, 2024, when Schwellenbach was chosen for the 40-man roster and elevated to the major leagues for the first time. Subsequently, he debuted in the MLB on the same day against the Washington Nationals, surrendering three earned runs on five hits in five innings, making it a debut to remember despite the loss. Schwellenbach’s journey so far exhibits his dedication and growing talent, making him one to watch in the Major Leagues.