Justin Speier
Encyclopedia
Justin James Speier is an American professional baseball
pitcher
who is currently a free agent. He attended Brophy College Preparatory
in Phoenix, Arizona
. Upon graduation from Brophy Prep, Speier attended the University of San Francisco
where he played catcher
for the Dons. He also attended Nicholls State University
. Speier served in the US Marine Corps Reserves. He is the son of former major league player and coach Chris Speier
.
Speier throws a four-seam fastball
from an unusual angle that can reach anywhere between 89 and 94 miles per hour. His success tends to be directly proportional to his fastball velocity, because the fastball sets up his best strikeout pitch - a baffling, darting forkball
, which causes great difficulty for hitters because of his unorthodox arm slot. Speier also throws a two-seamer and a slider
.
in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft
, Speier made it to the big leagues in .
He played one game for the Cubs before he was dealt with two other teammates to the Florida Marlins
. He pitched 18 games in Florida and by the time next season started he was coming out of the bullpen
for the Atlanta Braves
. On November 23, , Speier was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians
.
a game in the major leagues. He started the season back with Cleveland, winning his first two decisions of the season before he was traded to the New York Mets
and just 10 days later without appearing in a game for the Mets, claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies
where he played the next two and a half seasons of his career. His overall win-loss record with Colorado was 12–5 while picking up his first 10 big league saves. He was then traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
on December 14, , in a trade involving three teams.
During the season, Speier complied a 2-0 record, with a respectable 2.96 ERA and 25 holds
. Speier become a free agent
after the 2006 season, and on November 19, 2006, Speier signed a four-year contract worth $18 million with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Speier was released on August 11, 2009.
On January 28, 2010, Speier signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies
with an invite to spring training. He was released on April 3 after not making the team.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who is currently a free agent. He attended Brophy College Preparatory
Brophy College Preparatory
Brophy College Preparatory is a Jesuit high school located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school is currently limited to all-male enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. It is operated independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix...
in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. Upon graduation from Brophy Prep, Speier attended the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
where he played catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Dons. He also attended Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
. Speier served in the US Marine Corps Reserves. He is the son of former major league player and coach Chris Speier
Chris Speier
Christopher Edward Speier is a former Major League Baseball player and current bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds. He was drafted second overall in the January secondary 1970 Major League Baseball Draft.-Playing career:...
.
Speier throws a four-seam fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
from an unusual angle that can reach anywhere between 89 and 94 miles per hour. His success tends to be directly proportional to his fastball velocity, because the fastball sets up his best strikeout pitch - a baffling, darting forkball
Forkball
The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist....
, which causes great difficulty for hitters because of his unorthodox arm slot. Speier also throws a two-seamer and a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
.
1995–1999
After being chosen in the 55th round by the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft
1995 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign-Background:Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the...
, Speier made it to the big leagues in .
He played one game for the Cubs before he was dealt with two other teammates to the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. He pitched 18 games in Florida and by the time next season started he was coming out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. On November 23, , Speier was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
2000–2003
While with the Indians in , Speier went 5-2 during the regular season which was the first time he ever wonWin (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
a game in the major leagues. He started the season back with Cleveland, winning his first two decisions of the season before he was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and just 10 days later without appearing in a game for the Mets, claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
where he played the next two and a half seasons of his career. His overall win-loss record with Colorado was 12–5 while picking up his first 10 big league saves. He was then traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on December 14, , in a trade involving three teams.
2004–present
During his first season with the Blue Jays, he finished the season with a disappointing 3-8 record while adding 7 more saves to his career total. In , he rebounded by losing just twice and picking three wins over the course of the season. His ERA also went down from 3.91 in his first year with Toronto to 2.57 and he also appeared in 66 games which was three more appearances than he had in 2004.During the season, Speier complied a 2-0 record, with a respectable 2.96 ERA and 25 holds
Hold (baseball)
A hold is awarded to a relief pitcher who meets the following three conditions:Unlike saves, wins, and losses, more than one pitcher per team can earn a hold for a game, though it is not possible for a pitcher to receive more than one hold in a given game...
. Speier become a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
after the 2006 season, and on November 19, 2006, Speier signed a four-year contract worth $18 million with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Speier was released on August 11, 2009.
On January 28, 2010, Speier signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
with an invite to spring training. He was released on April 3 after not making the team.