Liam Spence

Liam Spence
Sioux Falls Canaries – No. 21
Infielder
Born: (1998-04-09) April 9, 1998 (age 26)
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Liam John Spence (born April 9, 1998) is an Australian professional baseball infielder for the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association of Professional Baseball. Spence is a member of the Australia national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Career

Spence graduated from St. Joseph's College in Geelong, Victoria.[1] He then attended Central Arizona College, where he played college baseball for two years, before he transferred to the University of Tennessee to play for the Tennessee Volunteers.[2] In 2021, he was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award.[3]

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs drafted Spence in the fifth round, with the 154th overall selection, of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He spent his first professional season with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Cubs, High–A South Bend Cubs, and Triple–A Iowa Cubs. In 20 total games, he combined for a .175/.243/.175 batting line with six RBI and one stolen base.[5]

Spence split the 2022 campaign between the ACL Cubs and Single–A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In 62 combined contests, he batted .192/.318/.305 with four home runs and 29 RBI.[6] Spence returned to High–A South Bend in 2023, playing in 36 games and hitting .214/.346/.303 with one home run, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases.[7]

On March 29, 2024, Spence was released by the Cubs organization.[8]

Sioux Falls Canaries

On May 2, 2024, Spence signed with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[9]

Personal life

Liam's two older brothers, Josh and Nic, played baseball for Central Arizona. Josh also played for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Subscribe to the Geelong Advertiser".
  2. ^ Oorschot, Vinnie van (21 July 2021). "Former Geelong baseballer selected to the Chicago Cubs". Geelong Times.
  3. ^ "2021 Brooks Wallace Award finalists announced". MLB.com.
  4. ^ "Chicago Cubs pick Tennessee baseball shortstop Liam Spence in MLB Draft". Knoxnews.com. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Pelicans' Liam Spence breaks baseball barriers". WBTW. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Liam Spence - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Liam Spence Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  8. ^ https://www.milb.com/iowa/roster/transactions/chicago-cubs
  9. ^ "2024 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Liam Spence's brother watching Tennessee in CWS from Australia". Knoxnews.com. Retrieved 9 March 2023.


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