Jeffrey Springs

BIOGRAPHY

Jeffrey Scott Springs was born on September 20, 1992, in Belmont, North Carolina. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Springs attended South Point High School in Belmont, North Carolina. He attended Appalachian State University, playing four years of college baseball. Springs was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 30th round of the 2015 MLB Draft and signed with them for a $1,000 signing bonus.

After signing, Springs split the season between the Spokane Indians and Hickory Crawdads. He posted a combined 2-2 record with a 2.61 ERA in 31 innings. He split the 2016 season between two levels, with the Hickory Crawdads going 1-1 with a 1.16 ERA in 18 games. He struggled in a promotion to the High Desert Mavericks, going 2-2 with a 5.36 ERA in 13 games (9 starts}. Springs returned to Class A-Advanced for the 2017 season, with the Down East Wood Ducks, having a 3.69 ERA with 146 strikeouts in 112.1 innings in 31 games (17 starts). Springs opened the 2018 season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Texas League, producing a 3-2 record with a 4.82 ERA in 37.1 innings. Springs was promoted to the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League, producing a 1-2 record with a 2.79 ERA in 19.1 innings.

Springs was called up to the majors for the first time on July 31, 2018 and made his major league debut that night, striking out A.J. Pollock for his first major league strikeout. Springs finished his rookie season after producing a 1-1 record with a 3.38 ERA in 32 major league innings. In 2019, Springs made the Rangers opening day roster. 

On January 15, 2020, Springs was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Sam Travis. On March 26, the team optioned Springs to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Springs made his debut with Boston in the team's fourth game of the delayed-start 2020 season, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk in 1+1⁄3 innings of relief against the New York Mets on July 27. He was optioned to and from the team's alternate training site during August and September. Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Springs appeared in 16 games, all in relief, compiling an 0–2 record with 7.08 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 20+1⁄3 innings pitched. On February 16, 2021, Springs was designated for assignment by Boston following the signing of Hirokazu Sawamura.

On February 17, 2021, the Red Sox traded Springs and Chris Mazza to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Ronaldo Hernández and Nick Sogard. On August 16, Springs underwent season-ending surgery to repair an ACL tear in his right knee and was placed on the 60-day injured list.

Springs made 33 appearances (25 of them starts) for the Rays in 2022, posting a 9-5 record and career-best 2.46 ERA while striking out 144 in 135.1 innings pitched.

On January 25, 2023, Springs agreed to a four-year, $31 million contract extension with the Rays.