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Reds Sign Shea Spitzbarth To Minor League Deal

By Darragh McDonald | May 25, 2023 at 6:46pm CDT

The Reds have signed right-hander Shea Spitzbarth to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He’s been assigned to the club’s Complex League affiliate for now but will presumably move to a higher level after getting some work in.

Spitzbarth, 28, has five innings of major league experience under his belt, which came with the Pirates in 2021. He recorded a 3.60 ERA in that brief time despite a miniscule 4.5% strikeout rate, getting helped out by a .176 batting average on balls in play and 89.3% strand rate. He spent the majority of that year in Triple-A, tossing 46 2/3 innings with a 2.12 ERA, 21.5% strikeout rate, 11% walk rate and 44.1% ground ball rate.

He was outrighted at season’s end and signed a minor league deal with the Tigers for 2022. He threw 53 2/3 innings in the minors last year with a 2.85 ERA, though the numbers under the hood weren’t as impressive. His 20.5% strikeout rate and 14.3% walk rate were both a few ticks worse than league average. A .214 batting average on balls in play and 81.7% strand rate kept the ERA down but led to a 4.65 FIP.

The Reds have actually had a strong relief unit overall this year, as their collective bullpen ERA of 3.71 puts them in the top 10 league wide. However, their depth is getting tested by injuries, with each of Tejay Antone, Fernando Cruz, Derek Law, Casey Legumina, Reiver Sanmartin and Tony Santillan current on the IL. Spitzbarth will add some non-roster depth and try to earn his way back to the majors. If he does so, he still has options and less than a year of service time, which would give the Reds the option of retaining him as a cheap depth piece for an extended period of time.

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Cincinnati Reds Transactions Shea Spitzbarth

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View Comments (21)
Post a Comment

21 Comments

  1. avenger65

    2 years ago

    OK, my new favorite baseball name.

    13
    Reply
  2. DCartrow

    2 years ago

    Sounds like a Dickens character from “Great Expectorations”.

    13
    Reply
  3. hiflew

    2 years ago

    I took a Spitzbarth once, but I decided showers were more efficient.

    12
    Reply
  4. Rsox

    2 years ago

    Shea Spitzbarth? Sounds like something you would find at Bath and Body Works

    8
    Reply
  5. Monkey’s Uncle

    2 years ago

    I’m just Spitzbarthing here, but this might be the best name out there for a player.

    4
    Reply
  6. stevewpants

    2 years ago

    Phonetically its like a German French fusion restaurant or something.

    4
    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      2 years ago

      Chez Spitzbarth? Sounds quite pretentious!

      6
      Reply
  7. bronxmac77

    2 years ago

    I’ll bet that dude is a helluva street fighter.

    2
    Reply
  8. This one belongs to the Reds

    2 years ago

    Five whole innings of major league experience too!

    He’ll be in the bullpen next week.

    1
    Reply
  9. kripes-brewers

    2 years ago

    Ahhhh. You guys are great…

    1
    Reply
  10. Edp007

    2 years ago

    Where’s Kevin Seltzer when you need him ?

    Reply
    • Joe It All

      2 years ago

      He’s kickin it with Kevin Seitzer, Kevin Elster and Kurt Stillwell.

      2
      Reply
      • Edp007

        2 years ago

        Lmao

        Reply
  11. Armaments216

    2 years ago

    Reds adding Spitzbarth to the bullpen for mop-up duties.

    Reply
  12. cornwhisperer

    2 years ago

    Finally have gotten to the point that so many guys have come and gone with the Pirates, that I don’t even remember them being here. Have to thank MLBTR for the picture. I never would have believed it

    Reply
  13. Fred McGriff HR

    2 years ago

    Peyton Battenfield the best name,. and before him, Mark Hamburger.

    Reply
    • cornwhisperer

      2 years ago

      Better than Coco Crisp? Surely you jest

      Reply
      • Fred McGriff HR

        2 years ago

        @cornwhisperer

        Dick Pole pitches to Rusty Kuntz and strikes him out..
        Oil Can Boyd, Catfish Hunter, Cannonball Titcomb.

        Coco is in the list, but not the best.name.

        Reply
      • This one belongs to the Reds

        2 years ago

        He does jest, and don’t call him Shirley.

        Reply
    • Bart Harley Jarvis

      2 years ago

      Peyton Battenfield, of the Hyannis Port Battenfields? How droll.

      Reply
  14. steelehere83

    2 years ago

    I remember him from his days as an undrafted minor leaguer with the Dodgers. He looked pretty good in the spring training games he pitched in for them.

    Reply

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