Mitch

Spence

Spence was a long shot to crack Kansas City’s season-opening roster this spring. He’ll open the year back in the upper minors after being acquired from the Athletics in a small trade earlier this spring. The 27-year-old holds a respectable 4.77 ERA (4.67 xERA), 1.40 WHIP and 192/70 K/BB ratio across 236 innings in the majors since 2024.

All of the runs scored in the second before the Royals pulled Spence with two outs in the frame. He returned to retire Ian Happ in the third and then left for good. Spence, who was acquired from the A’s a month ago, has allowed eight runs over seven innings this spring. At this point, he seems more likely to wind up in the Triple-A rotation than in the major league pen.

The 27-year-old hurler didn’t walk a batter or record a strikeout in the ballgame. The Dodgers jumped on him in the opening inning with consecutive RBI knocks from Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez pushing three runs across. Spence then settled in and worked a pair of scoreless innings to end his day. He got three swings and misses on 42 pitches on the night, registering an uninspiring CSW of only 17 percent. The expectation is that Spence will begin the season in a long relief role for the Royals, which saps him of any late-round fantasy appeal that he may have had if he were in the rotation.

Spence had been designated for assignment by the Athletics earlier in the week. The 27-year-old right-hander struggled to a 5.10 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 66/22 K/BB ratio over 84 2/3 innings in 32 appearances (eight starts) with the A’s in 2025. He adds quality depth for the Royals.

A Rule 5 pick from the Yankees two years ago, Spence went from pitching 151 1/3 innings with a 4.58 ERA as a rookie to 84 2/3 innings with a 5.10 ERA last season. Still, that was in a really bad situation in Sacramento. Spence throws strikes and grades out decently in terms of stuff. He also has option years left. We can’t imagine he’ll clear waivers, especially now that teams have the 60-man IL available and can free up spots.

Spence had a pretty encouraging first year with the A’s as a Rule 5 pick, but he’s gone 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA in eight starts this season and he’s been only adequate in posting a 4.01 ERA in 20 relief appearances. He’ll definitely have to fight for a spot next spring, and he’s more likely to be in the pen than in the rotation. First, he might get one more start next weekend against the Royals, though that’s not assured.

Spence will get a chance to pitch in the majors for the first time since he was demoted to Las Vegas a few days before the All-Star break. The 27-year-old could make starts for the A’s, but there’s nothing scheduled for him in that regard just yet.

The 27-year-old right-hander was obliterated in Wednesday’s loss to the Braves where he gave up eight runs on nine hits — five of them home runs — over his six innings of work. He also wasn’t going to pitch again until the other side of the All-Star break, so perhaps this is just the Athletics’ way of adding an extra bullpen arm for the final four days of the first half. Spence has posted a 4.70 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 63/22 K/BB ratio over 74 2/3 innings through his first 29 appearances (seven starts) on the season.

Spence was awful, and the fact he was able to work six innings is sort of remarkable. He allowed nine hits in the contest, and five of those went over the fence; including a pair from Ronald Acuña Jr. Spence has now allowed eight homers over his last two starts, and his ERA has ballooned to 4.70 from the 3.50 mark it was four starts ago. There have been good moments for the 27-year-old, but not enough, and certainly not enough to suggest he’s worthy of rostering after the All-Star break.

Spence struck out five and didn’t walk a batter, but he did allow three home runs, which accounted for all four of the runs against him. He’ll now take a 4.06 ERA into a tough showdown against the Braves next week at home and remains off the streaming radar, especially when pitching in Sacramento.