Jeffrey Scott Springs (born September 20, 1992) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

Athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competitio ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers,

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

, and

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

Career

Springs attended South Point High School in

Belmont, North Carolina Belmont is a small Suburb, suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located about east of Gastonia, North Carolina, Gastonia. The population was 10,076 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 census. Once known as Garibaldi ...

. He attended

Appalachian State University Appalachian State University (), or App State, is a Public university, public research university in Boone, North Carolina, United States. It was founded as a normal school, teachers' college in 1899 by brothers B. B. and D. D. Dougherty and th ...

, pursuing a degree in management and played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

for the

Mountaineers Mountaineering, mountain climbing, or alpinism is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas that have become sports ...

for four years (2012–2015). Springs was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 30th round of the

2015 MLB Draft The 2015 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 8 through June 10, 2015, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2014 MLB season standings. As the Diamondbacks finished the 2014 season ...

and signed with them for a $1,000

signing bonus A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...

Texas Rangers

After signing, Springs split the season between the

Spokane Indians The Spokane Indians are a Minor League Baseball team located in Spokane Valley, the city immediately east of Spokane, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest. The Indians are members of the High-A Northwest League (NWL) as an affiliate of the Co ...

and

Hickory Crawdads The Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers. They are located in Hickory, North Carolina, and play their home games at L. P. Frans St ...

. He posted a combined 2–2 record with a 2.61 ERA in 31 innings. He split the 2016 season between two levels, with the

going 1–1 with a 1.16 ERA in 18 games and struggling in a promotion to the

High Desert Mavericks The High Desert Mavericks were an American Minor League Baseball team in Adelanto, California, that played their home games at Heritage Field at Stater Bros. Stadium. They played in the Class A-Advanced California League. The franchise had eight d ...

, going 2–2 with a 5.36 ERA in 13 games (9 starts}. Springs spent 2017 with the

Down East Wood Ducks The Down East Wood Ducks were a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and are named for the wood duck, a colorful local waterfowl. Establi ...

, going 2–8 with a 3.69 ERA with 146 strikeouts in innings in 31 games (17 starts). Springs opened the 2018 season with the

Frisco RoughRiders The Frisco RoughRiders (often shortened to 'Riders) are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers. Based in Frisco, Texas, the team is named aft ...

of the

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

, producing a 3–2 record with a 4.82 ERA in innings. Springs was promoted to the

Round Rock Express The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home ...

of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

, producing a 1–2 record with a 2.79 ERA in 19.1 innings. Springs was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on July 31, 2018, and made his major league debut that night, striking out A.J. Pollock for his first major league strikeout. Springs finished his rookie season after producing a 1–1 record with a 3.38 ERA in 32 major league innings. In 2019, Springs made the Rangers opening day roster. Springs missed close to two months due to left biceps tendinitis. He finished the 2019 season going 4–1 with a 6.40 ERA over innings for Texas. On December 2, 2019, Springs was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

. On December 13, Springs re-signed with Texas on a one-year major league contract.

Boston Red Sox

On January 15, 2020, Springs was traded to the

in exchange for

Sam Travis Samuel John Travis (born August 27, 1993) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox. Listed at and , he bats and throws right-handed. T ...

. On March 26, the team optioned Springs to the Triple-A

Pawtucket Red Sox The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...

. Springs made his debut with Boston in the team's fourth game of the delayed-start season, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk in innings of relief against the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

on July 27. He was optioned to and from the team's alternate training site during August and September. Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Springs appeared in 16 games, all in relief, compiling an 0–2 record with 7.08 ERA and 28 strikeouts in innings pitched. On February 16, 2021, Springs was designated for assignment by Boston following the signing of Hirokazu Sawamura.

Tampa Bay Rays

On February 17, 2021, the Red Sox traded Springs and

Chris Mazza Christopher James Mazza (born October 17, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kane County Cougars of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New Yor ...

to the

in exchange for

Ronaldo Hernández Ronaldo José Hernández (born November 11, 1997) is a Colombian professional baseball catcher in the New York Yankees organization. He is currently considered a phantom ballplayer, having spent multiple stints on the active roster of the Bosto ...

and Nick Sogard. He made a career-high 43 appearances for Tampa Bay in 2021, pitching to a 5-1 record and 3.43 ERA with 63 strikeouts in innings of work. On August 16, Springs underwent season-ending surgery to repair an ACL tear in his right knee and was placed on the 60-day injured list. Springs made 33 appearances (25 of them starts) for the Rays in 2022, posting a 9-5 record and career-best 2.46 ERA while striking out 144 in innings pitched. On June 4, 2022, Springs, along with 4 other Rays teammates, opted out of wearing a Rays team logo and cap in support of LGBTQ+ Pride, during the team's annual Pride Night celebration at

Tropicana Field Tropicana Field (nicknamed "The Trop") is a domed multipurpose stadium located in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. "The Trop" was the home of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays season, 1998 to ...

. On January 25, 2023, Springs agreed to a four-year, $31 million contract extension with the Rays. On April 13, Springs exited the set after left arm ulnar neuritis. He was placed on the 10-day injured list due to ulnar inflammation. On April 22, it was revealed that Springs would undergo Tommy John surgery, which prematurely ended his 2023 season. On July 28, 2024, Springs was activated from the injured list to make his return from surgery. He made 7 starts for the Rays down the stretch, logging a 2–2 record and 3.27 ERA with 37 strikeouts across 33 innings pitched.

Athletics

On December 14, 2024, the Rays traded Springs and Jacob Lopez to the

for Joe Boyle, Will Simpson, Jacob Watters, and a Competitive Balance Round A pick in the 2025 MLB draft.

References

External links

Appalachian State Mountaineers bio
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Springs, Jeffrey 1992 births Living people People from Belmont, North Carolina Baseball players from Gaston County, North Carolina Major League Baseball pitchers Texas Rangers players Boston Red Sox players Tampa Bay Rays players Athletics (baseball) players Appalachian State Mountaineers baseball players Appalachian State University alumni Arizona League Rangers players Spokane Indians players Hickory Crawdads players High Desert Mavericks players Down East Wood Ducks players Frisco RoughRiders players Round Rock Express players Nashville Sounds players Florida Complex League Rays players Durham Bulls players