{{short description|Australian baseball player (born 1988)}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Josh Spence | image = | width = | caption = | position = Pitcher | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|1|22|df=yes}} | birth_place = Geelong, Victoria, Australia | bats = Left | throws = Left |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = 24 June | debutyear = 2011 | debutteam = San Diego Padres |finalleague = MLB | finaldate =11 May | finalyear =2012 | finalteam =San Diego Padres |statleague = MLB | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 0–3 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 3.15 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 41 | teams = *San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2012}}) }} '''Joshua Patrick William Spence''' (born 22 January 1988) is an Australian former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres.
==Playing career== Spence enrolled at Central Arizona College, and played for their baseball team in 2007 and 2008. He was selected in 25th round of the 2008 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks but did not sign.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} He transferred to Arizona State University to play for the Sun Devils for the 2009 season going 10–1 with a 2.37 ERA, where he joined Mike Leake and Seth Blair in the Sun Devils' starting rotation. He was selected in the 3rd round of the 2009 draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but did not sign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saukvalley.com/2012/11/21/rock-falls-graduate-regains-control-in-arizona/a3716rn/|title=Rock Falls graduate regains control in Arizona: Blair fall pitching project|date=22 November 2012|first=Robert|last=Martinez|publisher=SaukValley.com|access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref> He sat out the 2010 ASU season with an undetermined injury. After the 2010 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=63722&seasonid=239 |title=Josh Spence |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref>
===San Diego Padres=== Spence was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round, with the 274th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, and signed with them for a $100,000 bonus.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}
He was called up by San Diego on 21 June 2011, after they designated Luis Durango for assignment to make room for him on the 40-man roster.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dierkes|first=Tim|title=Padres Designate Luis Durango For Assignment|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/06/padres-designate-luis-durango-for-assignment.html|work=MLBTradeRumors.com|access-date=21 June 2011}}</ref> Spence made his debut on 25 June in the top of the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves; he faced three All-Stars in Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones, and Brian McCann, setting them down in order. Spence became the 29th Australian to reach the Majors and first pitcher since Rich Thompson debuted for the Angels in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.pflintoff.com/AUSMajor.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309215204/http://www.pflintoff.com/AUSMajor.htm | url-status=usurped | archive-date=9 March 2008 | title=Flintoff & Dunn's AUSTRALIAN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL | publisher=Flintoff and Dunn | access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref>
Spence made 11 appearances for San Diego in 2012, recording a 4.35 ERA with 10 strikeouts across {{fraction|10|1|3}} innings pitched. On November 2, 2012, Spence was designated for assignment by the Padres.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padres Designate Spence, Tekotte For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/padres-designate-spence-tekotte-for-assignment.html|access-date=January 26, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>
===New York Yankees=== The New York Yankees claimed Spence off waivers on 6 November 2012.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/baseball/yankees-claim-relievers-david-herndon-and-josh-spence-off-waivers-177555691.html | title=Error - Winnipeg Free Press | newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press | access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> He was designated for assignment by the Yankees on 14 December, following the signing of Kevin Youkilis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yankees Designate Josh Spence For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/12/yankees-designate-josh-spence-for-assignment.html|access-date=February 16, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> Spence cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees on 18 December.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Martinez, Spence, Shirek, Blue Jays|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/12/minor-moves-charlie-shirek-blue-jays.html|access-date=February 16, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> In 33 appearances for Scranton in 2013, he compiled a 3.98 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 43 innings of work. Spence was released by the Yankees organization on 3 August 2013.
===Miami Marlins=== On 29 December 2013, Spence signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Jesus Sanchez, Matt Angle, Josh Spence|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/01/minor-moves-jesus-sanchez-matt-angle-josh-spence.html|access-date=February 16, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> On 1 April 2014, he was assigned to Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, for whom he posted a 3.97 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 11 appearances out of the bullpen. Spence was released by the Marlins organization on 20 May.
===Amarillo Sox=== Spence signed with the Amarillo Sox of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball following his release. In 3 starts for the Sox, he struggled to an 18.69 ERA with 3 strikeouts across {{fraction|4|1|3}} innings pitched.
===Windy City ThunderBolts=== Spence finished the 2014 season with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League. In 14 starts for the team, he registered a 1-10 record and 5.23 ERA with 58 strikeouts across {{fraction|75|2|3}} innings pitched.
==Coaching career== ===San Diego Padres=== In 2023, Spence was hired as the pitching coach for the San Diego Padres short season affiliate
===Milwaukee Brewers=== In 2024, Spence was hired as the pitching coach for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. On 5 February 2025, Spence was announced as the pitching coach for Milwaukee's Double-A affiliate, the Biloxi Shuckers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brewers' 2025 minor league coaching staff keeps stellar group mostly intact|url=https://reviewingthebrew.com/brewers-2025-minor-league-coaching-staff-keeps-stellar-group-mostly-intact|access-date=February 10, 2025|website=reviewingthebrew.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Pitching style== Spence is a finesse pitcher, relying on pitch location and movement rather than overpowering speed. His two main pitches are a sinker averaging about 84 mph and a slider averaging 78. He also has a changeup at 76-77 mph that he uses often against right-handed hitters.<ref>{{cite web|title=PITCHf/x Player Card: Joshua Spence|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=543805|publisher=BrooksBaseball.net|access-date=5 May 2012}}</ref>
==Personal life== Spence's brother, Liam, played college baseball at Tennessee and was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.<ref name="brother">{{cite news |last1=Potkey |first1=Rhiannon |title=From Australia with glove: Josh Spence watches brother Liam repeat CWS experience |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2021/06/21/tennessee-baseball-college-world-series-liam-spence/7764965002/ |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=June 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Mike |title=Chicago Cubs pick Tennessee baseball shortstop Liam Spence in fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2021/07/12/liam-spence-mlb-draft-2021-chicago-cubs-tennessee-baseball/7876932002/ |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=July 12, 2021}}</ref> Their middle brother, Nic, played baseball at Cincinnati.<ref name="brother" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Australia|Biography|Baseball}} {{baseballstats|mlb=543805|espn=31817|br=s/spencjo01|fangraphs=11260|brm=spence003jos}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Josh}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:San Diego Padres players Category:Arizona State Sun Devils baseball players Category:Australian expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Central Arizona Vaqueros baseball players Category:Cotuit Kettleers players Category:Arizona League Padres players Category:Eugene Emeralds players Category:Fort Wayne TinCaps players Category:San Antonio Missions players Category:Tucson Padres players Category:Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Major League Baseball players from Australia Category:Sportspeople from Geelong Category:Windy City ThunderBolts players Category:Amarillo Thunderheads players Category:Peoria Javelinas players Category:Gigantes del Cibao players Category:Australian expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Category:New Orleans Zephyrs players Category:Minor league baseball coaches Category:Sportsmen from Victoria (state) Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen