Tim Spooneybarger
Encyclopedia
Timothy Floyd Spooneybarger (born October 21, 1979 in San Diego, California
) is a retired Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. He bats and throws right-handed.
in the 29th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
and spent three seasons in the minors before making his major league debut with the Braves on September 5, . Spooneybarger spent most of the season in the majors recording a 2.63 ERA
in 51 games for the Braves. On November 18, 2002, Spooneybarger was traded to the Florida Marlins
along with minor league pitcher Ryan Baker for Mike Hampton
.
He started in the majors appearing in 33 games before going on the disabled list
with elbow tendinitis. Before beginning a rehabilitation assignment, he was forced to have Tommy John surgery
and miss the entire season. On July 20, , while rehabilitating, he left the game due to pain and later learned he would have to undergo Tommy John surgery for a second time. The Marlins released him after the 2005 season and Spooneybarger would be out of professional baseball for the next two years.
In May , he signed with the Baltimore Orioles
and played for the team's Low-A affiliate the Aberdeen IronBirds
. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Spooneybarger plays in a rock band called Mad Ink with former Marlins teammate A. J. Burnett
. The group is so named because Burnett and Spooneybarger both sport many tattoos.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
) is a retired Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He bats and throws right-handed.
Baseball career
Spooneybarger was drafted by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta 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....
in the 29th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
and spent three seasons in the minors before making his major league debut with the Braves on September 5, . Spooneybarger spent most of the season in the majors recording a 2.63 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 51 games for the Braves. On November 18, 2002, Spooneybarger was traded 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...
along with minor league pitcher Ryan Baker for Mike Hampton
Mike Hampton
Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...
.
He started in the majors appearing in 33 games before going on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with elbow tendinitis. Before beginning a rehabilitation assignment, he was forced to have Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and miss the entire season. On July 20, , while rehabilitating, he left the game due to pain and later learned he would have to undergo Tommy John surgery for a second time. The Marlins released him after the 2005 season and Spooneybarger would be out of professional baseball for the next two years.
In May , he signed with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and played for the team's Low-A affiliate the Aberdeen IronBirds
Aberdeen IronBirds
The Aberdeen IronBirds are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The IronBirds play in the New York - Penn League and are based in Aberdeen, Maryland, which is in Harford County....
. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Spooneybarger plays in a rock band called Mad Ink with former Marlins teammate A. J. Burnett
A. J. Burnett
Allan James "A. J." Burnett is a right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. Previously, he played for the Florida Marlins and the Toronto Blue Jays...
. The group is so named because Burnett and Spooneybarger both sport many tattoos.