Glenn Sparkman

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Glenn Michael Sparkman (born May 11, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes and in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants.

Glenn Sparkman
Sparkman with the Orix Buffaloes in 2021
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1992-05-11) May 11, 1992 (age 32)
Ganado, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: June 30, 2017, for the Toronto Blue Jays
NPB: August 18, 2021, for the Orix Buffaloes
KBO: April 10, 2022, for the Lotte Giants
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record4–14
Earned run average5.99
Strikeouts111
NPB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average6.88
Strikeouts14
KBO statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record2-4
Earned run average5.31
Strikeouts89
Teams

High school and college

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Sparkman attended Ganado High School in his hometown of Ganado, Texas.[1] Undrafted out of high school, he attended Wharton County Junior College in Wharton, Texas.[1] In 2013, his junior year, he went 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 77.2 innings.[2]

Professional career

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Kansas City Royals

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Sparkman was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He was assigned to the Rookie Idaho Falls Chukars for the 2013 season and made 20 relief appearances, posting a 1–0 win–loss record, 1.72 earned run average (ERA), and 47 strikeouts in 3623 innings pitched.[1] Sparkman was promoted to the Advanced-A Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League for the 2014 season. He was named the Carolina League's Pitcher of the Year after pitching to an 8–3 record, 1.56 ERA, and 117 strikeouts in 121 innings pitched.[1][4]

Sparkman began the 2015 season with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, making four starts and going 2–2 with a 3.60 ERA before going on the disabled list with an arm injury. It was later determined that he needed Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season and the start of the 2016 season.[5] Sparkman rehabbed with the Arizona League Royals, and also made starts for the Class-A Lexington Legends, Advanced-A Wilmington, and Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2016. In 16 combined starts, he posted a 2–7 record, 5.22 ERA, and 65 strikeouts in 6013 innings.[1]

Toronto Blue Jays

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Sparkman pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 Spring Training

On December 8, 2016, Sparkman was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 Rule 5 draft.[6] Sparkman suffered a broken right thumb in spring training in 2017, and opened the season on the 10-day disabled list. On April 10, he was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.[7] Sparkman was activated on June 30 and called up by the Blue Jays.[8] He appeared in relief in two games, giving up seven runs over a single inning pitched. He was designated for assignment on July 3.[9]

Kansas City Royals (second stint)

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On July 8, 2017, Sparkman was returned to the Royals organization.[10] He finished the year with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, posting a 2.61 ERA in 3 appearances. He was assigned to Northwest Arkansas to begin the 2018 season, later receiving a promotion to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. Sparkman was added to the Royals active roster on July 8, 2018.[11] In 15 games on the year, Sparkman recorded an 0-3 record and 4.46 ERA.

Sparkman pitched in 31 games for the Royals in 2019, posting a 4-11 record and 6.02 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 136.0 innings of work. With the 2020 Kansas City Royals, Sparkman appeared in 4 games, compiling a 0-0 record with 5.40 ERA and 2 strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched.[12] On November 20, 2020, Sparkman was designated for assignment.[13] On November 23, the Royals released Sparkman.[14]

Minnesota Twins

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On December 17, 2020, Sparkman signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.[15] Sparkman pitched three innings of one-run ball for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints before being released on May 18, 2021.[16]

Orix Buffaloes

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On June 23, 2021, Sparkman signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[17][18] On August 18, he made his debut at NPB as a starter against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.[19] Sparkman pitched 17 innings for the Buffaloes, posting an 0-1 record with a 6.88 ERA and 14 strikeouts. He became a free agent following the 2021 season.

Lotte Giants

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On December 12, 2021, Sparkman signed with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League.[20] He was released on August 2, 2022.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Glenn Sparkman Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "Glenn Sparkman - Stats - the Baseball Cube". Archived from the original on March 9, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Forman, Mike (June 8, 2013). "Ganado grad Sparkman picked by Royals in 20th round". victoriaadvocate.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  4. ^ Berenstein, Seth (August 28, 2014). "Sparkman Named Carolina League Pitcher Of The Year - Carolina League News". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  5. ^ Ashbourne, Nick (December 8, 2016). "Blue Jays select right-hander Glenn Sparkman in Rule 5 Draft". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on December 9, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  6. ^ "2016 Rule 5 Draft results". MLB.com. December 8, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  7. ^ Adams, Steve (April 10, 2017). "Blue Jays Claim Ty Kelly From Mets". mlbtraderumors.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  8. ^ "Blue Jays call up Rule 5 pick Glenn Sparkman, option Chris Smith". Sportsnet. June 30, 2017. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "Jays designate Sparkman; promote Bolsinger". TSN.ca. July 3, 2017. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "Toronto Blue Jays Transactions in July 2017". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  11. ^ "Royals' Glenn Sparkman: Promoted to big leagues". cbssports.com. July 8, 2018. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  12. ^ "Glenn Sparkman Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "Royals Release Glenn Sparkman". November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  14. ^ "Royals Release Glenn Sparkman". November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  15. ^ "Twins Sign Eight Players to Minor League Deals". December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  16. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 5/18/21". May 18, 2021. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  17. ^ "【オリックス】助っ人右腕スパークマン獲得(中日スポーツ)". Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  18. ^ "Justin Smoak Returns from NPB". June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news オリックスの新助っ人スパークマン デビュー戦は4回2失点「緊張と興奮が入り混じったような気持ち」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). August 18, 2021. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  20. ^ "Glenn Sparkman Agrees To Sign With KBO's Lotte Giants". December 11, 2021. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
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